Afghanistan is not unlike Iraq in so many ways but in the same breath – it’s so different. It’s very dry like Iraq. There is a dirty/dusty haze that hangs over Kabul and even over the ground as we could see from the flight to Jalalbad. Everything on the ground is grewy from the dust. The dust is so fine it gets into everything, even your teeth.

The poverty is so bad and education is also almost non-existant. The Taliban kept the population afraid and uneducated—and it didn’t work. These guys are really hard workers and intense fighters too. Don’t get me wrong, there is still corruption and greed – but I do believe we are making a difference.

Today we met with Karzari at his residence and met his cabinet. He talked about his country, from what I saw I think people still like him. Afghanistan has literally been a country for years and years with no government, and in 2009 there is an election coming up. It’s hard to believe with no government they’ve been able to stay together as well as they have. There have been many struggles, especially with other countries. We encouraged Kazari to come to the U.S. again to pitch his efforts. He was very interested in our 2008 Presidential elections going on.

We then took a Blackhawk to Jalalabad and then a convoy to Asadabad to see a bridge project at the Kunar river. Getting there was awesome, the convoy was very professional- we had two birds in the air, I knew it was a major logistical mission for them and it was well done.

The bridge is truly a public works project, and is employing local Afghans. The bridge will take about a year and a half to put in because they have to use hammers and wheel-barrows which may take longer than advanced equipment would take. The guys that are building the bridge would be the same guys working for the Taliban if it weren’t for the bridge project. I caught the eye of an Afghan worker swinging a hammer I know was 20lbs, no lie. I looked at him and waved—he waved back at me. He went on to swing the hammer about 6-8 times and broke a huge rock. When he did that he looked up at me and I yelled ‘good’ for him and gave him a thumbs up—I got the biggest smile back from him- it was a pretty cool moment.

I am about to land in Germany, but overall it was a great trip, it was a blessed trip.