Friday, August 31, 2007

Lost in Translation

This week I want to talk a little bit about the interpreters that work with the international forces here in Afghanistan. These interpreters are the key to our success. Without them, we would not be able to communicate with our Afghan counterparts and our mission would be futile, as our message simply would not be understood. However, not only do they assist in overcoming the language barrier for those that mentor the Afghan National Army, interpreters also play a key role out on the battlefield as they often accompany those units directly involved in combat to communicate with the local civilian population. When these units are required to engage the enemy, their interpreters remain in the midst of battle. Since the beginning of operations in 2001 over 50 interpreters have lost their lives as a result of direct combat action. Usually this loss of life is only reported as a footnote should an interpreter be killed in an incident with a foreign soldier.

With that said, I think it is more than fitting to recognize the contribution that they make to help bring security to their country and the conditions within which they work. It is a well known fact that in certain regions of the country, interpreters are often targeted by the Taliban as they are seen as assisting foreign troops. Often this fact makes me wonder what it must be like for a local interpreter to leave the safety of his home and make his way to the Airfield each day.

For those of us that rely on interpreters everyday to do our jobs, you begin to develop a personal relationship with that individual. Of course, at the outset it is an awkward setting. However, as you begin to adjust and develop an awareness of your surroundings, it is only human nature to start to get to know your “terp” as a person and not just as someone that can assist you to do your job.

Although for security reasons I cannot provide much information about the interpreter that I use other than to be able to tell you that he is a character in the truest sense of the word. His ability to translate is beyond reproach and his proficiency in english is remarkable given the short period of time that he has spoken it. But, such skill does not come as a surprise. Many of the interpreters that I have spoken with are extremely intelligent. And therein lies the reason why they have chosen to work as interpreters. Sadly, many see that a future in Afghanistan is no future at all. Their hope is to learn english and then one day to leave for either the United States and Canada. Not yet have I met one interpreter, who I have had any length of discussion with, who has not passed on his desire to leave Afghanistan. And the sad irony is, these are the bright spots of the country who, with enough assistance, could one day turn Afghanistan into a country that is able to hopefully function on its own.

Things continue to go well here. The mentoring tempo has started to pick up as I am now getting much more involved into the daily workings of the military lawyers. And, unfortunately the average temperatures haven’t really cooled off too much. All week we have been in excess of 40 degrees and there is little relief in sight. Perhaps I will begin to appreciate it in November when it is only a cool 25 degrees, but I can only wait and count the days until that kind of relief comes. I hope that all is well for everyone back home in Canada and as always, if you have any comments or questions, feel free to send them to me at omltjag@hotmail.com.

Friday, August 24, 2007

No Ordinary Life

I have received a lot of feedback on my blog and the reviews are positive, so thank you for your inputs and I will do my best to keep you interested with my weekly updates.

This week I want to talk about what life must be like for the ordinary Afghan. Since I have been here I have had the opportunity to interact with many members in the Afghan military, as well as many locals who act as interpreters, and I have talked to them about the life of an average Afghan person. And to steal a comment from one of my colleagues, the average Afghan is an expert at survival.

For almost three decades the Afghan people have known nothing but war. From the Soviet invasion of the late 1970s to the current NATO-led operations, the country has not seen security or stability and each day is a fight for survival for many Afghans. During the Soviet invasion many atrocities were committed and millions of civilians were killed or persecuted for nothing more than their tribal affiliations or political beliefs. After the Soviet withdrawal, a power vacuum resulted in several years of civil war that saw many more innocent lives lost. Warring factions wreaked havoc both on each other and the civilian population to such an extent that much of the country was decimated. Finally, in the mid-1990s the Taliban took control and continued to persecute and kill in the name of Islam. They mainly targeted women and religious minorities but were ruthless in their quest to gain and hold power.

After so many years of war, the country is now almost devoid of basic infrastructure, the current political regime remains fragile and does not yet govern throughout the entire country. Crime and corruption are extensive and many are deprived of even the basic necessities. The Taliban continue to mount a campaign of intimidation preventing many Afghans from turning to national security forces for assistance. But yet, the people continue to survive.

And so this is the life of an ordinary Afghan. It is a struggle unlike anything that we will ever have to endure. Most live without many of the luxuries that we are accustomed to in western society and some still live without even the most basic of necessities such as adequate medical care or proper nutrition.

Currently progress is being made, but it is slow. International aid continues to pour in and slowly the nation is being rebuilt. It is a process that will take time, but is hampered by a lack of security. Many non-governmental organizations (NGOs) will not provide assistance without first being assured that their workers will be safe. Such a demonstration of the lack of security recently occurred when 23 South Korean hostages were kidnapped. For many of them, their fate rests with the Taliban.

Perhaps this week I can best sum up by referring to a conversation that I had earlier this week. I was speaking with one of the military lawyers that I mentor and we were discussing the future of the Afghan military and whether it would one day be able to function without international assistance. Our discussion could have easily applied not just to the Afghan military, but also to the future of the entire country. I commented that there was much work to be done but that with a little hope, one day I thought that they would be able to make it on their own. He lost all expression in his face and stared at me with great intent and replied, “Hope is all we have.”

I have received a couple of e-mails from people asking if I would mind if they forwarded my blog to some of their own friends. This blog was meant to be more than just a way to keep in touch with my family and friends and let them know how I am doing, it is also a way to inform the average Canadian about something that most people will never experience. It is a great way to teach others about something new. Therefore, I encourage you to forward this to as many people as you would like. There is no need to ask my permission.

I am still doing well and find myself more involved in my work as each day goes by. The more I work with the Afghans the more I want to help them. They are a likeable people and are very grateful for what the international community is doing for them. I send my best to everyone back in Canada and look forward to hearing from you. Please e-mail me at omltjag@hotmail.com if you have any questions or comments. And remember to support our troops overseas. I know that your support from home makes it so much easier for us to do what we were sent to do.

Thursday, August 16, 2007

First Impressions

I've been on the ground in Afghanistan for about two weeks and after taking care of a bit of training and administrative details, I am finally starting to get settled into my job. I am the only legal mentor in the southern part of Afghanistan and the task ahead is no small one. I am responsible to mentor military judges, military prosecutors, military defence counsel, military criminal investigators and operational legal advisors at various levels of command located throughout southern Afghanistan.

Within a few days of landing in Afghanistan I was introduced to the Afghan legal advisors that I will be mentoring over the next six months. Although they were very inquisitive when we first met, I noticed that they were very hospitable and did their best to make me feel welcome. As is custom in Afghanistan, they offered me a cup of chai, which is a type of green tea, and served it with a compliment of raisins, nuts and candy. Also, on a second occasion I accompanied one of the lawyers to lunch with a number of his comrades. Immediately, I was ushered to the front of the line and was served the best of the food that was available. Although my stomach wasn't much for Afghan cuisine, to be treated with such honor is something that sets the Afghan culture apart from western standards.

The Afghan culture is guided on an ancient code of honor referred to as Pashtunwali. This code is a set of rules that guides individual and communal behavior and contains a number of core beliefs including justice, hospitality, tolerance, forgiveness and revenge. Insofar as hospitality is concerned, Afghans are taught to welcome all including friends, strangers and even enemies that are seeking refuge, so long as they are not there to take advantage. As well, Afghans are taught that if you are intentionally wronged, you have the right to avenge the injustice in equal proportion. If instead of revenge, that injustice is forgiven, then he who forgives is owed a debt. However, should the injustice continue, then you are required to seek revenge lest you appear weak and invite your enemies to commit further injustices upon you.

It is this code of honor that has guided the justice system in Afghanistan for thousands of years and only now are we trying to introduce the western concepts of our understanding of justice. These values are pervasive in the mindset of many tribal elders and military leaders. Although the goal is not to replace their system of justice with our own western values, we are trying to promote fairness and the rule of law. The question is whether these concepts will be accepted by a culture that has lived for thousands of years on concepts such as forgiveness and revenge.

I hope that everyone is doing well back in Canada, and remember my e-mail address while I am away is omltjag@hotmail.com. See you next week.

Saturday, August 11, 2007

Welcome to Afghanistan

After a long plane trip with a few stops, I arrived in Afghanistan a few days ago and now make my home at the Kandahar Airfield (KAF), a civilian airport and military airbase located several kilometers to the southeast of Kandahar city. KAF was built in the late 1950s through American funding and was used by the Russians throughout the war during the 1980s. KAF is also known as the place of the Taliban’s last stand as Coalition and Afghan forces cornered the remaining Taliban forces in late 2001 in one of the bunkers located on the base.

A few kilometers outside of KAF is Tarnak Farms. This is the location of a former well known Al Qaeda training base frequented by Osama bin Laden. Tarnak Farms is also the location of the April 2002 friendly fire incident where an American pilot dropped a bomb on Canadian forces conducting a nighttime live fire training exercise killing four Canadian soldiers and wounding eight others.

Now, KAF is a bustling military base. It is the size of a small town with approximately 15 000 people living here, including military personnel, foreign civilian personnel and contractors. There are over 40 nations represented on base as well as over 1500 local Afghans who work on the base each day. It is a few kilometers from one end of the base to the other and there is even a 24-hour shuttle bus to transport people from one area to another.

A central point on the base is the known as the Boardwalk. Here is where you can find Tim Horton’s, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Subway and several shops operated by local nationals selling various goods. In the center is a large sand pit that has a floor hockey rink, volleyball nets and I have even seen a softball game being played in the center.

But KAF isn’t all fun and games. The heat and dust can be quite discomforting and at times, can be very overwhelming. Temperatures reach well over 45 degrees daily and have been recorded to reach over 55 degrees in the sun at the height of the afternoon. Rarely is there a breeze and when one is present, it is nothing more than a gust of hot air that only increases the discomfort caused by the heat. The earth is scorched leaving the ground barren and covered in a fine dust that is like powder. It constantly lingers in the air and every breath draws a healthy portion into your lungs. By the end of the day you are covered in a fine layer from head to toe.

However, all in all, KAF isn’t such a bad place. When military troops are required to make this their home for such an extended period of time, their governments do the best they can to make life comfortable. We have access to the internet and phones, there are good gym facilities, television rooms and the Americans have even set up a spa facility that offers massages for discounted prices.

Well that’s it for this week. I’ll try to post again next week and remember, if you want to send an e-mail, please send it to omltjag@hotmail.com. Also, I am having problems posting photos due to firewall restrictions but I will see if I can work the bugs out for future posts.

Fiat Justitia