I’m frustrated today; however, I don’t really feel I should write about why other than to say it relates to how this story is being reported. I purposely hadn’t mentioned where I was in Afghanistan; however, I am at Bagram Air Field (BAF).

I don’t know if I had told you yet, but I have a really awesome office. I wanted to show you my office; however, this is all that you can see. The locally made furniture inside is already falling apart, but all the other stuff is awesome. If you look close, you can even see what section I am in charge of.

Today was the first day I was able to attend chapel service. I was honestly amazed as I attended the contemporary service. There were about 200 Soldiers in the most beautiful building on our post in a service very similar to Central Assembly in Springfield. That is definitely going to be a weekly event I look forward to.

On another note, I don’t know if I had mentioned it before, but it is really dusty here. Dust is everywhere on everything. The scary part of this is that we are at the end of the rainy season. There is a lot of mud as I walk around, yet I breathe a mixture of at least 50% dust. Do any of you medical people know how much dust it is safe to consume on any given day? Please let me know.

Ever since I was very young, I have been fascinated by politics. My favorite show for years was Family Ties, and Michael J. Fox was my hero. I am and have always been a Republican; a very conservative Republican. I would like to say I will always be a Republican, but lately I am not sure.

Every day I wake up over here I thank God I am in Afghanistan and not Iraq. I don’t do that because it is safer, because it is not. Statistically I am as likely to die here as I would be in Iraq; although I am safer in the winter, and more at risk in the spring and summer than I would be in Iraq. I am thankful because I don’t have to question the politics of why I am here. I can watch the videos from 9/11 or look at the many posters of the planes crashing into the World Trade Center and be assured that I believe in my mission.

As I watch the debate in Washington over Iraq, I am amazed and confused. The House recently voted on a non-binding resolution that did what the American people did in November, tell the administration they don’t like what is going on in Iraq and they don’t want to continue. So let me get this straight, after being elected to do something they do something saying they are doing nothing but should do something?

The debate is something that leaves me confused, but does not affect my morale or the morale of most Soldiers I know. I think most of us are smart enough to understand that you can disagree with a politician and simultaneously support the military. All of us in the military disagree with one politician or another, and we all have our private opinions about Iraq. The public debate just makes each of us think about it more.

The debate also causes some very odd behavior. This past election thousands of Republicans in Missouri voted in a democratic Senator, Claire McCaskill. They voted her in knowing that they would disagree with every vote she made except for one. That one vote was so critical that they went against their values and being so that Claire could cast that vote on Iraq.

Then there are the ones in the debate that will never be affected by the war; they will never go to Iraq and never know anyone that will. They will never suffer through rationing, have a desire to buy war bonds, or work overtime in a factory manufacturing war goods; however, they will loudly and proudly repeat the Republican talking points, you know “Mission Accomplished,” “Stay the course,” or “A new way ahead.” No cognitive thought involved, no real solution, just an undying support of a party affiliation.

Then you have the profiteers. Whether it is a member of the administration who’s companies are recipients of large no bid contracts, or the congressman sneaking in earmarked funds for some pork back home on a defense authorization that would be political suicide not to pass; it is all the same. The profiteering is more of a side show; it really has nothing to do with the debate on Iraq, it just shows the corrupt nature of those making decisions on Iraq. They didn’t go to war in Iraq so they could profit; however, they took full advantage of the situation to benefit themselves (both parties).

I find myself in a very unique situation; I don’t know what I think. I don’t know what the answer is. I love intellectual debate and I usually love engaging in these debates, but the more I think about it and the more I talk about it, the more confused I get. I guess I am left only to reminisce about Colin Powell; remember overwhelming force and an exit strategy. Quite a concept.

Tonight at our staff meeting, the outgoing Battalion Commander presented me with his coin for the outstanding job I have done in my new position. I would love to specifically tell you what I accomplished to earn this coin, but that would be a secret…of course.

I apologize for the quality of the photos, but the internet is rather slow here, and my camera does not have a zoom. Today was a perfect day to get some mountain pictures; however, I was too busy during daylight hours. I will work on that during the next week. Once you see the photos, all you Colorado folks will be impressed!

A couple of days ago I was given a change in assignments. I am no longer the Executive Officer for my Company; I have been moved up to what I have been told is the most important job in the Battalion. I now report directly to the Battalion Commander (a Lieutenant Colonel) and the Brigade Commander (a Full Bird Colonel).

The great thing about the job is while it is much more responsibility, my scope has been significantly narrowed. I now only worry about one thing instead of the hundreds of fires that came up daily as the Executive Officer. For me it gives me much less stress because of the focus of my position although it is much more important.

The coolest thing about my job is where I work. The room I work in requires you to have a secret clearance to enter. Virtually everything inside is classified. I also get all this other really cool super secret stuff. Because of all this secret stuff, I’m not even going to tell you what I do, but I will say that I love it!