Jalalabad

100+ F here in Jalalabad before 1100 hours even.  Humidity is only 6% though.  Feels like walking through a giant oven.  In the evenings the wind starts up and conjours imaginations of walking towards a flamethrower.

Other than the heat, JAF is a fantastic base.  Just big enough to be comfortable, small enough to avoid a lot of the BS.  I'm only here for a few days, but if I had to spend a long period of time in Afghanistan again, this would be a decent place to do it.

Culture Clash

Last night, in Dubai, sitting in the ultramodern hotel lounge, watching Real Madrid play Villarreal, with American country music playing out of the lounge sound system.

Dubai UAE-Gate

If you are going to make more than 1 or 2 trips through Dubai and you don't like waiting in long lines, then taking advantage of the UAE-Gate program is definitely to your advantage. The UAE-Gate is like a digital passport that lets you get through immigration, normally a 45 minute plus long line, in less than 5 minutes.

Signing up for UAE-Gate has gotten even easier. There is now a desk inside Terminal 1 (the main airline terminal) that lets you sign up for UAE-Gate before you even enter the country. The cost is 200Durhams, roughly $60USD, takes about 20 minutes, and is good for two years. I'm not sure if there are other payment options, or if you need to have Durhams on hand to pay for it.

After you land in Dubai and exit the plane, be prepared for a very long walk. First you walk through the secure area across the top of the airport to the center, where you drop down to the below ground level. The main corridor is probably 1/2 mile long and you can choose to walk or ride the people conveyor. The end of the corridor opens up into the visa processing area (no visa required for US citizens). At the far end of the visa processing areas are stairs that take you up to immigration. After you climb the stairs, stay on the right hand side and there will be a small counter marked UAE-Gate. After the counter are some man-trap turnstyles, the actual E-gates, so turn back, you've gone too far.

At the counter you need to give them your passport, they will take your picture, scan your thumbprints, collect your money, and give you a driver's license size card. Now, whenever you enter or leave Dubai, all you need to do is insert the card into the e-gate, scan your airline ticket, and provide a thumbprint.

If you don't have checked baggage to wait on, you can get from the plane, through the airport, and out to your taxi in less than 20 minutes. If you do have checked baggage, you won't really save much time because it normally takes an hour from when you get off the plane until the baggage comes up, but you will have plenty of time to shop in the duty free store.

fear cyberwar?

I started focusing on computer security as a career back when power control SCADA systems started getting connected to corporate networks and the Internet at the demand of the federal government. The fed.gov demanded opening up the transmission market for competitive access, which led to previously closed, air-gap security, networks being made much more vulnerable through connection to other networks.

That focus on learning how to build "secure" networks took me through companies large and small, the .com bubble, and onto government and military network security. I hope I've learned a few things about security over the years. I do not think that either government or private industry has a monopoly on good security practices, they just go about things in slightly different manners.

While the cyberwar industry makes for entertaining movies and books, they are dependent on the assumptive premise that western civilization will completely collapse after two to three days (or weeks) of life without the Internet, or the television, or power. Cyberwar is not a cold war or something unto itself, it has only proven effective as a prelude, used to stun and confuse a population during an actual, physical, attack.

Computer security, or information assurance, or smart business, is about managing risk. No mere computer attack could wipe out everyone's credit card debt, only a destruction of the debt collection mechanisms, society at large, could wipe out your credit card debt. In the face of catastrophe, people are going to be far more worried about food, survival, and shelter than their mortgage payment.

When lives are at stake, organizations build redundant, physically separated (air gapped) networks to increase security and lower risk. Data is kept in multiple locations, including offline and off grid locations that are not subject to the effects of the risks being guarded against.

If you truly want to believe that civilization will completely collapse in a psychotic fit of withdrawal from the Internet, you really need to unplug and take a vacation somewhere with no Internet. Bonus points for vacationing in a place with no phones or no power.

Memorial Day

If a picture is worth a thousand words, how many words is this worth?

From Afghanistan, happy Memorial Day.

Rolling Back the Socialist Tide

The root of the matter is this: we have been ruled by men who live by illusions: the illusion that you can spend money you haven't earned without eventually going bankrupt or falling into the hands of your creditors; the illusion that real jobs can be conjured into existence by Government decree, like rabbits out of a hat; the illusion that there is some other way of creating wealth than hard work and satisfying your customers; the illusion that you can have freedom and enterprise without believing in free enterprise; the illusion that you can have an effective foreign policy without a strong defense force, and a peaceful and orderly society without absolute respect for the law. -- Margaret Thatcher

From a stunning good, though very long, article ("Rolling Back the Socialist Tide") documenting Britain's near fatal attempt at full socialism from 1945 to 1979. Obama is following almost the exact same recipe, using the same ingredients, that Britain attempted. Nor surprisingly, Obama seems to feel that the power of his charisma can suceed, despite attempting all of the same policies that pushed Britain into 3rd world status financially and required a bailout loan from the IMF.

I'm generally too busy out here to put much effort into following political developments back home, let alone write about them. Fortunately, for you, there are people that write much better than I do. From The Machine Crumbles, by borepatch:

I don't think that the problem is the Democrats, and I don't think the solution is the Republicans. The problem is that there's a permanent political class that has increasing contempt for the voters, and who is aided and abetted by their lackeys in the traditional media. If the Republicans are not as bad as the Democrats in this, it's not for lack of trying.

No quote can truly sum up a full article, it can only provide incentive for you to read the whole. At the end you can also find a nice little bonus graphic:

I'm not sure I can agree that every single one of the congresscritters in DC needs to go, but the more I thought about it, the harder it was to name a single one of the bums that was truly worth keeping, that the republic would survive without.

5 more days of "American Food"

In his eminent brilliance, Gen Mcrystal has decided having access to civilian food, such as Pizza Hut, Subway, etc is demoralizing to soldiers on bases that do not have those options. The fact that soldiers from the small COB's and outposts make trips back to the big FOB's so they can get a taste of home and relax for a few days is not important. In the interest of equality, they must all be closed. As of May 1st, there will be no more Pizza Hut, Subway, Burger King, or Popeyes on American bases in Afghanistan. I have little doubt that all of the soldiers will be thanking him for his wisdom after the 4th month of eating the same old chow hall food with no break from the monotony.

One of the few redeeming qualities of KAF is the variety of living on a NATO base. As the titular head of NATO forces, the generals order should have applied here as well, but fortunately the other countries gave him the finger. Pizza Hut and friends will be gone, but KAF will continue to have it's French cafe, Dutch restaurant, Italian Pizzeria, Lebanese gyro stand, English bagel and sandwich shop, and our "British" TGI Fridays. US soldiers will continue to be able to spend a few rest days on KAF and get a break from the monotonous chow halls.

I guess I need to make sure to grab a Pizza Hut while I still can. Bah humbug.

Bad News

Michael Yon, an independent author and one of the very few individual voices in Iraq and Afghanistan is being asked to leave, again, by the US military.

More info:http://www.facebook.com/MichaelYonFanPage?ref=nf

Murphy's April Fools

I somehow survived yet another April Fool's day in our mad race around the sun. April Fool's day is intended to be a day of pranks, joking and good humor, mostly. This year there was not a joke or prank to be had, just Murphy in full form. I spent the day racing between crises of down systems and communications failures of epic proportions. Our vehicle was almost towed, but in a moment of kindness my co-worker was bestowed with a warning instead of the dreaded ticket. I'm not sure I could even put some of the communications failures into words.

Chain of command takes on whole new levels of meaning when dealing with NATO bureaucracy. In a few more days, I'm sure there will be a few things we can laugh at. In the end we can take thanks in that no harm was done and no lives were lost or damaged.

After almost four years in Iraq and Afghanistan, probably the strangest thing is that from this near perspective, yesterday feels almost like just another day at the office. It's another insight into the common expressions out here of "living the dream" and "just another day in paradise." You just have to smile and soldier on.

Dog Washing Machine

From the comments at casa de Munchkin Wrangler:

"For people with Mastiffs a 'dog washing machine' is also known as a “car wash”. Though the dogs tend to get annoyed if you order the hot wax…"

Stirring the pot

LOL - So the majority of Americans trust a news source that provides more than one point of view rather following the scripted propaganda (According to the Democrat partisan polster Public Policy Polling).

Every time a person complains about "FAUX News" and conservative lockstep, just remember:

1. It's not conservatives who try to stifle free speech on college campuses. Who is behind speech codes and political correctness?

2. It's not conservatives who insist that any person that does not unthinkingly agree with published doctrine about "global cooling/global warming/climate change" is an idiot. Who is asking that research, data, and methods be brought into the open and subject to public peer review and the scientific method?

3. It's not the conservatives insisting that only they know the "correct" way for you to raise and educate your child; that the state knows better than you do. Who is questioning the increasingly inept public education machine and pushing for alternatives that have been proven to yield better results, such as independent charter schools?

4. It's not the conservatives that look to the government for help for any problem great and small? Who looks inside themselves, their family, and their community first as the source for the means they need to survive and prosper?

5. It's not the conservatives that believe that the power of the people comes from the government. Conservatives, Libertarians, and Independents know that, in America, all rights belong to the people; that the only power government has is the power that the people choose to allow the government to have in order to conduct the business of government.

Just a few thoughts,
Chris

Finest Kandaharian Living

Most of us in KAF live in tents. Living in "just" a 40 man tent carries some luxury, at least our "home" is fairly stable (subject to change at any moment). Hard wall two man rooms are coming, but they are already 6 months late and nobody is holding their breath.

Just to give you an idea:

The hallway leading down the center of the tent

My bunk, luckily I've got the bottom bunk!
The beautiful picnic table built by one of the soldiers where I do a lot of my work.

Just a few ideas of the 4 star living conditions here on KAF.

Kahlua Cinnamon Brownies

An oldy, but a very, very good way to send love in a box, whether overseas or across town. Make sure to thank "The Bitch Girls" with every loving bite, I do.

Kahlua-Cinnamon Brownies

1/4 c. chocolate chips
1/4 c. butter
1/4 c. Kahlua
2 tsp. vanilla
3/4 c. flour
1/4 c. unsweetened cocoa
1 tsp. cinnamon
3/4 tsp. bakinng powder
1/4 tsp. salt
2/3 c. firmly packed brown sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp. powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine chocolate chips and butter in a small saucepan, cook over medium heat until melted, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, stir in Kahlua and vanilla. Set aside.

Combine flour, cocoa, cinnamon, baking powder and salt in a small bowl. Stir well and set aside.

Combine brown sugar and egg in large bowl; beat at low speed until well blended. Add chocolate mix and beat well. Add flour mix and beat until well blended.

Pour batter into 8? pan coated in cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Sprinkle powdered sugar on top.

Kandahar Stinks

Kandahar stinks. There is just no other way to describe it when the central feature of the base is the sewage aeration pond. Once you get past the smell, Kandahar Air Field (KAF, KAF-poo, Kamp Poo, etc) is a pretty decent base and a real eye-opener to people used to working on and with US run bases. As a NATO base, KAF takes multiculturalism and multi-layered beaurocracy to whole new levels.

I just got back from a week in KAF, next week I head back for another month, I guess I better learn to love the KAF.

More, after sleep.

Back in Bagram

I'm back in Bagram, Afghanistan after more than 2 years. Not much has changed, even a frightening number of faces remain the same.

An update?

And facebook has consumed me (http://www.facebook.com/chris.pugrud?ref=profile), forgive me, for I have sinned.

I have spent the last two months switching jobs and preparing to spend 6-12 months back in Afghanistan. I really like Afghanistan. This does not help prepare for Afghanistan. This does not help wife (who spent 9 (freezing (cold FU shower) months in Afghanistan) and now has a vaguely small child (our son) to deal with while I am (often) gone. Seriously, I do not wonder why she is pissed (while I am home (and she kicks my ass (and I love her (can, I, seriously, digress any further?) until forever) I'm not kidding) and she should be. I love my wife and I love my son,

Given that I am on the abyss of deployment I bought a new "netbook", the Gateway LT31, from Best Buy for $379.99 and I must say I am damned impressed. My standards are short because of what I am wandering in to...

And then, life needs sleep.

A good day indeed

You can't call it a bad day when you get to meet and shake hands with an astronaut (William Sheppard) and a medal of honor winner (SFC Davis).

SOFIC 2009

I may have found a secondary gun nut paradise. I'm down at the Special Operations Forces Industry Conference (SOFIC) in Tampa. Out on the show floor is every medium and small arms manufacturer that sells to, or wants to sell to, the operator community. Dillon Aero has 2 of their pop up minigun mounts here. Daniel Defense with their new DDM4. Mark LaRue is here in person, the nicest guy you could want to meet, and he won't let you walk away until you have a "Beverage Entry Tool" and a container of his dry rub (spicing for meat) in hand. Everything is hands on, althe way from FN and glock pistols up through an M2 and the improved LAW rockets.

While the conference is focused on military sales, every manufacturer I talked to supports the civilian market and said they were committed to making civilian legal versions of their products (other than the LAW rockets, obviously).

In FN news, the rep mentioned that they are working on batch of 500 SCAR's for the civilian market and they are almost ready to ship, after the first batch of 200 went so fast.

The downside of the SOFIC conference? Pictures are forbidden, so no pictures of all of the funderful gunnie toys on display, just great memories.

Stupid networks

All the shows I actually like tend to get canceled.

Jet setting around the world (Iraq, Afghanistan, Milwaukee, 2 weeks == Tampa!) doesn't leave much time for television. But, when I'm actually at home, it's nice to flip on the Tivo (cook dinner, change diapers, cuddle the baby, feed the dog) and relax on the couch with a good show and better company (wife, child, dog, cats). I'd rather read a good book, but that requires turning on my brain (re: turn off brain, relax, enjoy). I'd stopped watching television entirely for 3-4 years (I had a DVD player, not cable) until Firefly came on the television. I watched every episode of Firefly from premier to cancellation (and a few episodes of OCC, but Dad liked it, it was a family event).

From the time we were in Afghanistan, downloading shows from iTunes, through the current state of Tivoness (and the eventual purchase of shows that get mis-recorded), there are several shows we really enjoy. Two of them are now cancelled (again): Earl and The Unit. I'm a bit confused, both of these shows attract very large audiences, suggesting that the reason they have been canceled is political, not economical.

This will help me stop wasting time watching television and fast forwarding through commercials, so it's a net gain. Right?