INTRODUCTION

Hi and welcome to my blog! This journal will reflect my journey in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) – a part of the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) – that was initiated in response to the 9/11 tragedy almost 4 years ago. I’m an Air National Guardsman and was federally activated to serve a short tour in the Air Force in support of my unit’s combat rescue mission.

I’m also a Desert Storm veteran, but this deployment is my first since the early 90’s – and things were very different then. In those days, the local Kuwaitis approached us to genuinely greet and shake our hands for liberating their country. Now we’re not sure if the local Iraqis and Afghanis are friendly or are suicide bombers waiting to martyr themselves by taking as many lives along with theirs. The innocence and euphoria of defeating Saddam Hussein in 1991 has given away to a harsh reality in 2005 of an embedded and lethal insurgency in Iraq. In Afghanistan, things are going a little bit better for the Coalition and American forces, but this war is now overlooked in the minds of Americans as our focus continues to watch the death toll pile up in Iraq.

Whatever your political background lies, I hope you take away from this blog a better understanding of what our American troops are doing here in Afghanistan. I consider myself an independent thinker, but I’m also very dedicated to this specific mission because of its purpose – to catch Osama bin Laden and destroy the al-Qaida network of terrorists for what they did to us. I’m also bounded by Operational Security (OPSEC) requirements and thus will need to sanitize details to ensure that I do not compromise information that will help the enemy.

Many of my family and friends back home are all concerned for my safety, but have also wished me well in this dangerous mission. My intent focus is to perform my part of this crucial mission and to come home safely and share stories and pictures with loved ones upon my return. Thank you for taking some of your time to read my story.

>> Al