Friends and
Family,
This will
be my last “Afghan Update” as I leave
KITE RUNNER
– THE BOOK
Some of you
may have read “Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini and know that kite flying was a national pastime
until it was banned by the Taliban (if you have not read the book, I recommend
it). After the Taliban were removed in Dec 01, kite flying did not
resurge quickly – it has taken some time and is only now again becoming what
could be considered an Afghan pastime.
KITE RUNNER
– THE PASTIME
What makes
kite flying interesting in
KITES OVER
If it is
not too hot, and the conditions are fair, Fridays (the Islamic “weekend”) are
often passed with kite flying. The open area of a nearby cemetery serves
as a battlefield for kite flyers. Note in the photos the gender of the
people in the photos… all male. Women are not allowed at such activities.
PHOTOS:
I’ve included some photos Omid (my interpreter) took for me on a weekend in
early October (during Ramazan).
1) Father
and son flying a kite
2) Kite
makers and Kite Runners.
4) Kite
Fight
5) Nadir
Shah Tomb & Mosque (Afghan King 1929-1933)
8) Kabul
Sunset
9) LTC
Vic Hearne, Col Mike Therrien, & Lt Col Bill
Cooley shortly after 19 Oct 2005 awards ceremony at Office of Security
Cooperation –
This
assignment has been difficult due to the separation from family… but very
rewarding on a personal and professional level. Working with the Afghan
Minister of Defense and his staff, establishing the processes and procedures
they will use in the future, and most importantly building genuine relationships
with the people of Afghanistan not only directly impacts National Security
Policy, but has been personally rewarding. I will miss the Afghans I
worked with and hope to return to this beautiful country some day as a tourist.
Please pray
for our mission here, for the leadership in
Hope you
are all doing well and I look forward to returning to the states and seeing
many of you. God Speed and God Bless
v/r
Bill
=====================================
WILLIAM T. COOLEY,
Program Manager, Afghan
Defense Sector
Directorate of Program
Integration (DPI)
Office of Military
Cooperation -