Afghanistan a week before the Elections

Things are quiet except for the increase of military planes roaring over my house and office. Many people have left. Some left weeks ago. Every day another friend says, I’m off tomorrow. Good luck and stay safe. Yesterday I walked out after squash into the UNIKA (UN Guest House with large garden and bar. Usually it is full of internationals drinking and moaning about the food and problems of working in Afghanistan and also their previous and future holidays. Gradually there have been becoming less and less. Yesterday the speakers were blaring out “Final Countdown”, a bored barman was hitting the bar with a fly swat and only two others were sitting near the bar. It was no surprise that they were IOM (International Organization of Migration) colleagues. No surprise because NGOs and UN agencies have been encouraging their staff to take leave over the election period for some time but our chief only mentioned the possibility on 29th September when the few flights leaving before the elections were already fully booked. If we have an evacuation plan they are keeping it secret. While most internationals have gone home or are following events from a Dubai or Islamabad hotel room life goes on in Kabul as normal. My collegues have chartered a plane to Dubai and are leaving Wednesday. Recently there have been few security incidents. Most expect trouble and it could be big. It is like waiting for the start of a race you would like to be cancelled.

This week had another example of aid money used for political advantage. I mentioned in previous reports about the bomb on 30th August in Kabul targeting Dyna Corp (a private security firm). The US Ambassador wants to repair the road. Unfortunately the road and pavement are better than most in Kabul and it is tree lined. The only repair necessary is the bomb crater and that would cost $685. This is not good enough. The Ambassador wants the whole road tarmaced, new pavements and trees planted. Then the ambassador and his friend the Major will open the new road to much fan fare and media coverage just before the Election Day. The cost of this farce will be $100,000 plus from USAID.

Concerning the American invasion I think it can be have little dispute that America illegally invaded Afghanistan and most of the world said nothing because it was just after 9/11. The question of the 20,000 US military presence in Afghanistan now is interesting. The ISAF troops have four UN resolutions justifying their presence but the US troops have nothing so they are illegally in Afghanistan. However, if the president invited them to stay then it is arguably legal. So the US put their man in as President who then invited US troops to stay in the country and USAID pumps in lots of aid money to make it sweeter. The people understand that the troops and the aid go together. When soldiers actually give aid directly themselves the link is not exactly subtle.

Just heard that the UN security say things may start tomorrow and also just received security warning that there are four car bombs heading for international targets in Kabul. Some of the international women are have been crying today and people are getting edgy especially knowing that they are unlikely to get help from UNSECORD. I have just obtained a trauma bag (extensive first aid kit for serious injury) and put it in my office. All my staff have been trained to use it. I have decided not to leave. I am not sure why. It just does not feel right. It seems ironic that internationals gave Afghanistan the elections they did not want and then leaves because they think they will get bloody.