Like many government agencies and other businesses, at the end of the fiscal year if there is still money left in the annual budget a call goes out for year-end purchases. I submitted the following request:


-----Original Message-----
From: Lanicek, Richard E USA Mr USA CSTC-A (MPRI)
Sent: Thursday, January 24, 2008 9:18 AM
Subject: Year-end buy

Year-end buy requirement: One (1) broadsword.
No NSN identified. See http://www.coldsteel.com/88hnh.html.

Justification:

1. Per MPRI corporate guidelines, employees are not allowed firearms for personal protection. As identified in the 012308 PM meeting, the threat level for MPRI employees billeted in the Big House and the White House is elevated, as evidenced by the change/evolution of tactics demonstrated by the recent insurgent attack on the Serena Hotel. In lieu of a firearm, an edged weapon would be an acceptable alternative. Many MPRI employees currently carry pocket-sized knives and/or lock blade type edged weapons for utilitarian and personal protection purposes. A broadsword is widely viewed by those in the sword community as the best all-around and durable weapon for close combat.

2. Worldwide news agencies typically include scientific reports detailing new, mutating viruses/germs as threats to life and health. Recent increases in genetic and embryonic research have accelerated the possibility of new, unknown viruses for which we have no antidote, cure, or methods of prevention. Infection is imminent. Many researchers have determined that the most likely new viral mutation will result in a world-wide epidemic, causing zombie-like symptoms, including the preference of living human flesh as a food source and resistance to all defenses other than decapitation. Ergo, a broadsword is the logical sidearm against zombie attack. Considering the poor sanitation and high air pollution of Afghanistan, I surmise that this country will be one of the most susceptible to a zombie epidemic.

3. A broadsword would be commensurate with the MPRI logo and, as such, greatly enhance the reputation and respect of MPRI.

Rick Lanicek
L-3 Communications/MPRI
Kabul, Afghanistan
Local 0798-254-581

Amazingly, despite the eloquent verbiage and painstaking research evidenced above, my request was denied. Hmpf.

Out.

I had the opportunity to visit the ANA Central Forces Depot, where they keep their obsolete weapons. There were at least four warehouses full of old weapons, spare parts, and comm gear. It was like exploring a museum.

I recognized many of the weapons, but not all. Most of them were old Warsaw Pact weapons. There were hundreds of British Enfields, Russian SSPh machine guns, and many others I couldn’t ID. I saw some older Enfields, a stack of US M1903 rifles with British markings, US M3 “Grease Guns”, lots of Chinese rifles, and more. Most of them were stacked on top of each other on shelves and heaped with dust. It was a collector’s dream.

There was one lonely M1 Garand. Unfortunately it was too dark and the rifle was too rusty and dirty for me to make out the manufacturer or serial number.

There was one warehouse where they had a bunch of larger weapons like AA platforms, heavy machine guns, mortars, recoilless rifles, etc. Some of those they cleaned up and sorted for display.

Another item of interest was an old Enfield that some Afghan had decorated with studs similar to how they used to do Jezail rifles. This one was more modernized and had stickers too.

More pics are here.

Out.

I went to the gun range today at Pol-E-Charki near 201^st Corps.

Under the DIAG (Disarmament of Illegal Armed Groups) program, weapons captured from Taliban, al Qaeda, warlord, and other criminal activities are sent to the Afghan National Army (ANA) Central Workshop for inspection and repair, then test-fired before being issued to ANA units. They are mostly old Soviet weapons.

Today we fired DSHKA heavy machine guns, PKM machine guns, and AK-47 rifles. More pics are here.

There were also some US armored HMMWVs sharing the range and test firing their weapons (.50 cal. machine guns, 7.62mm machine guns, and M4 rifles), and an Italian unit in APCs (Armored Personnel Carriers).

Out.