Politricks

I spoke with the guards' commander about the thefts. He took the matter very seriously, and suggested that we should search all the local employees when they leave the safe house. He suggested also that the kitchen assistants and the cleaner should no longer be allowed to come into the guards' and the interpreters' quarters, unless they are invited. I stressed that no-one is suspected and that no-one is accused. I promised him that if the money or the stolen items are recovered anonymously, there would be no reprimands , but if the thief is caught, there will most certainly be serious consequences the person.

In the afternoon we went to see the provincial governor. There was one issue that I had been ordered to take up with him as early as in the beginning June, but have until now not had the proper opportunity to do. It concerned misusing the PRT commander's words in the media. The provincial governor was surprised to learn that our interpreters watch the evening news regurlary, and that they write notes of the news for us. He dismissed the false information that had been on the news as a misunderstanding and a misinterpretation.

The mayor also came to the governor's office to see us. He was unhappy about the ongoing road construction to the university building of Samangan, a project which is funded by us. The road was too narrow and too short(!), and did not follow the master plan for Aibak city. I tried my best to remind him of the fact that he and city engineer had agreed with the construction company about the details of the road before the contract was signed. He refused to listen. I seriously considered getting up and walking out of there, but what good would that have done? Finally, the provincial governor decided that the construction would be stopped and the plans for the road revised. Better no road at all than a narrow road.

P.S.: The provincial governor told a funny story in the meeting. Earlier, when he was the district governor of Andkhvoy, had been visiting a village in which there had been fighting between ISAF and the insurgents. Just then, a jet fighter had accidentally flown overhead. He had had absolutely no communications with the pilot whatsoever, but he had told the people that he had just stopped the plane from dropping bombs on the village, telling the pilot that "there are no insurgents here". The villagers had cheered him as a hero. Now there's a true politician.