Today, my soon-to-be predecessor Vic Solero and I went to GS/G4 to discuss some budget issues with Gen Shah Aga but he wasn’t in. Only about half the officers we usually see there were in today. It’s Thursday, the start of the Muslim weekend, so many of them managed to be somewhere else for the half day…

So Vic took me to see the sewing factory. The ANA has many of their uniforms, flags, accouterments, etc., manufactured at their own sewing factory. Not usually a military function, western armies like the US contract out the manufacture of those items. However, this factory is self-sufficient; the items they make and sell pays for the factory’s cost. Of greater importance, however, is the labor force. Almost all of the workers are women, and almost all of them are military widows. The factory also has a nursery, which is extremely forward-thinking for this country. So those of you who may read this (Mom, Julie, Kim), the nursery needs clothes, school materials, toys, etc., for ages 3 months to 5 years…

I took as many pictures as I could, but that stupid old camera just wouldn’t cooperate. There are some in the photobucket, after the LogCmd pics. I broke down and bought a new camera today. Not very expensive, but it has 8 megapixels and optical zoom. Damn thing didn’t come with a memory card though so it looks like I have to hit the bazaar tomorrow.

By the way Mom, one of the pictures that didn’t turn out was some little old Afghan ladies embroidering flags. They were using antique sewing machines that would probably cost a small fortune in the US, they were so old.

Out.