The Taliban can't run a town, how could they rule the world?

Life here has fallen into a regular grind.  We have a schedule that we follow with meetings, deadlines and daily/ weekly and monthly products that have to be produced.  Forms are filled out, convoys are executed and missions are planned and done like clock work.

I truly believe that any job is just that, a job.  The difference is that here a job can suddenly change into an adventure or a trauma.  Thank God we have not had any real trauma close to us yet.  With the poppy harvest coming to a close, we expect to see our little "friends" less interested in harvesting and more motivated to take over the world.

   I often visualize Pinky and the Brain in turbans sitting in a shura with other Taliban folks telling each other how they desire world domination.  They can't run a town of 2000 without abusing people and hurting the weak, but they desire world control.  I think they may want to start smaller and work their way up for a few hundred years, so that they could learn from their mistakes.  Oh well there goes my western education flaring up again.

  The routine has gotten repetitive, so there are days that drag along.  It has started the traditional homesickness that sets in when there is time to think.  I am so grateful for the two guys here from Buffalo.  Jerzy Galazka and Jake Benbenek help me through the times when I miss home. We sit around and reminisce about bars, women and food from home. 

   The guys here from Puerto Rico think that everybody from Buffalo speaks Polish and there are a few words not fit to print which may end up back in PR due to this deployment. We don't get vulgar at each other, just life. They believe that Kurva is an English word used up north, for instance.  Please don't post any vulgarity, I don't want people at St. Adalbert's thinking I am a dirty soldier.

    I guess that is all I have in me for today.  I only wish the job was 9 to 5 and not 5 to 9, these long hot days just knock me out sometimes. 

--  God Bless and stay safe, CPT Matthew Ryan

Comments

[Maryann Waters, FRG 2/101 CAV HHT]

QUOTE: "I often visualize Pinky and the Brain in turbans sitting in a shura with other Taliban folks telling each other how they desire world domination."

And this is but ONE of the things that I miss about you! HAHAHA Now I'm sitting here thinking about Pinky and The Brain!!!

[David M]

Capt Ryan,

I'd very much like to talk with you about this. If possible please contact me via my blog. http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/

David M

[David M]

The Thunder Run has linked to this post in the blog post From the Front: 05/16/2008 News and Personal dispatches from the front lines.

http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/2008/05/from-front-0562008.html

[chris]

One more thing...is there anything we can do to help back home? Can I send you some La Nova's wings or something? Anything at all. Let me know. God bless.

[chris]

Hey Matthew, first and foremost, thank you defending my freedom. I really appreciate the service you guys are doing for our country. I'm sure you already know this, but the decision you made to defend our country is a very honorable one. Anyways, I was just curious from your post if the people there are happy to have American military present to keep them safe from the Taliban. Also, is the Taliban becoming less powerful? Shouldn't we be on our way to knocking off this group of terrorists for good? Or are they a group that could never be totally defeated? Again, I thank you for your service. God bless.