A conversation in Afghanistan

Austin Bay is in Afghanistan and had this conversation with an Air Force Colonel.
An excerpt:
Go read the rest.

DATELINE: Bagram Air Force Base, Afghanistan November 9, 2007

“You’re tired,” I said.

He nodded, a brief nod.

Then I told him there was no choice. There are those bearing the burden — for example, him– and those who don’t. Unfortunately, with a few stellar, brave exceptions, only the US military has shown up for this war, and you’re one of those who’ve shown up and shown up again. But show me the alternative?....

...Nukes and nerve gas make every tribal war an international crisis. Goodbye Tokyo, Moscow, or Miami– because a sophisticated tribesman at war with his eternally despised neighbor decides that demolishing the global economy would make everyone pay attention to his neglected, forgotten grievance. Tyrannies keep breeding this insanity. The only solution is consensus, wealth-producing societies, where everyone gets a say and everyone has a buy-in....

...We went into the control tower, a squat Soviet artifact slapped with thick white paint bristling with au courant American electronics. We went up to the second floor. In the staircase the fighter pilot said “We’ve a sign in the squadron that says “The mission, fuckhead, is supporting the 18 year old with the rifle.” We know that we’re here to put bombs on bad guys so they don’t kill American soldiers.”

That sign wasn’t on the door but then we were entering a staff office, not the squadron headquarters.

On the desk was a picture of a young US Army second lieutenant. The pilot picked it up. “That’s my son. He just finished armor officers basic.”

I recognized the patch on the young man’s shoulder. Thirty years ago I served in the same division.

“Some day I may be flying strikes to support my son,” the pilot said, his voice soft steel.