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Kandahar Dispatches

Flight to Uruzgan

Comments (5)

Monday, February 19, 2007 | 01:21 PM ET

By Tom Parry

It's been a busy couple of days. We've been out past the wire, up in the air again and stood on the edge of a minefield.

Past the wire first: Richard and I went into Kandahar again today with our fixer. The town was jumping. Kandahar has come a long way since I last spent time in the city five years ago. Back then, all I recall as far as shops were tin shops and bakeries. Those are still here in abundance. But there are also electronics stores, sweet shops and a cellphone outlet on every block. Also, restaurants. Our fixer says there are three or four good ones in town and lots of others that would leave you hunched over with stomach cramps. I plan to avoid those last ones. But I wouldn't mind grabbing lunch one day in one of the others.

Our ride to Uruzgan

Up in the air: The military put us on a chopper flight north to Uruzgan this week. A big Chinook with a gunner sitting on the back hatch looking for bad guys. It was an awesome low-level run through the mountains. Snow on the peaks. The ground so close you could touch it. Exhilarating, scary, fun.

In Uruzgan, we were the guests of the Australian Defence Forces. They're doing reconstruction work in the area and we were having a look at a trade school they'd built for the locals. It looked like a great project. But this being Afghanistan, security was the big issue. The school is located inside the Australian base to guard against attacks.
The Aussies were a great bunch. Serious, committed, but laid back. They also seem to have a lot of patience for their colonial cousins, the Canadians. Or maybe they just liked having visitors out in the flat Afghan plain they call home.

Dirt runway takeoff: Uruzgan province

Finally, the minefield: Richard and I climbed a hill outside Kandahar to watch some de-miners work. They kneel in the dirt in body armour, helmets and visors and search for high explosives with metal detectors and long prods. It's tedious work and also extremely dangerous. All for about $250 US a month. Mines and unexploded bombs are a huge problem in this country. As we walked through the areas that had been cleared today, I couldn't help but think, What if they missed one? Afghans get to ask that question every day.

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Comments (5)

Nancy Kelman

I ran across your blog today. Our news reports are full of the death and destruction that goes on so it's a welcome break to hear that despite the real danger our soldiers are in they have not forgotten how to be compassionate...quite an art under the circumstances.

Posted February 24, 2007 05:44 PM

Bert Murphy

I read your reports continually, I find them a good source for the area. I know that I'm talking to and reading a report from the same compound my son is in. Some reports are sadening for some families, especially if there is a fatality. Some mom, dad, has lost a son or a daughter. Even though it's not mine I still shed a tear for them.
thanks Tom / Laurie
Bert

Posted February 21, 2007 11:43 PM

Frank

Ottawa

In answer to Paul from Richmond, mechanical de-mining devices such as those used in WWII just don't work well enough - they are okay when you are conducting an assault against an enemy, you are already counting on a few losses from missed mines but not if you want to declare the area free of mines and allow farmers and kids trhough it. The only way to clear a minefield is by hand; some high-tech tools help, are great and they have come a long way, but you still need somone to do it by hand.

Posted February 20, 2007 03:21 PM

Paul

Richmond

I don't know why they don't try the mine clearing tools that were used in Normandy in WW2. They fitted tanks with spinning chains on the front then drove through the minefield and exploded the mines.

Apparently it worked.

I would think this would be very quick albeit a little noisy and not appropriate for every site.

Posted February 19, 2007 04:32 PM

FG Saunders

Victoria

If you get out to PRT Kandahar say hello to the Fire Chief, he is also working with a number of Afghans. He is my son and has just arrived in Afghanistan.

Posted February 19, 2007 03:23 PM

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