A helping hand in Kandahar
Friday, May 30, 2008
I\'ve been lucky in many ways during my trip to Afghanistan. It is a Muslim country, and as a woman I\'ve had to be careful. I have an Afghan outfit, complete with head scarf for when I go into Kandahar city. I don\'t wear my sunglasses or makeup. And I always sit in the backseat. However, being a wom.. .. read more..
Kandahar Kash
Thursday, May 15, 2008
This is my first time to the NATO base in Kandahar. So just about everything is new. I pretty much spent the first few days wandering around with eyes wide open (not so smart with the dust) trying to figure out what kind of world I\'ve landed in. There are lots of interesting oddities. But my favour.. .. read more..
Under the Kandahar sun
Thursday, May 8, 2008
I landed in Kandahar under a hot sun. It feels a little like you\'ve landed in another universe. This is after all a military base. In the middle of the desert. Shortly after I arrived I found out there was going to be a ramp ceremony for the latest Canadian soldier to die in Afghanistan. I had seen.. .. read more..
Reporting the Pakistani Taliban \'confession\'
Sunday, October 28, 2007
For the media at Kandahar Airfield, it was a bizarre weekend to say the least. One event in particular reminded us that we are definitely not in Canada. Our phones started buzzing, practically simultaneously, early Saturday afternoon. Text messages, phone calls, e-mails were coming in from our \"fix.. .. read more..
The promise of hope
Monday, October 22, 2007
Are Afghan women better off now than they were five years ago? The CBC\'s Carolyn Dunn reports from Kabul. .. read more..
The Same (Only Different)
Thursday, October 11, 2007
At first glance, Kandahar Airfield is exactly the same as it was when I was here a year ago. It is still dusty; clean hair is a luxury I know I won’t enjoy again for weeks. It is still so dry most of us are constantly guzzling water and complaining that our skin feels as taut as a drum skin. Our wo.. .. read more..
Wounded soldiers: DND and David Common reply to comments
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
By David Common My post yesterday on how much information should be made public on wounded Canadian soldiers has elicited a great many responses. There are obviously many of you out there who feel passionately about this. I’ve also heard from the military, which says it puts out all the information.. .. read more..
More Canadian injuries, fewer reported
Monday, October 1, 2007
By David Common I’ve just spent a few days on a thrilling and depressing story. My camera operator and I were embedded with an American medevac helicopter crew. They’re a good, friendly, capable bunch of guys who welcomed us instantly. By far, the majority of the injured who are loaded into the bac.. .. read more..
Driving into Kandahar City
Thursday, September 13, 2007
By David Common Kandahar City Cameraman Marc Robichaud and I dashed in to Kandahar City the other day. I say dashed because that\'s exactly what you have to do. The city is a very dangerous place for westerners so when we go, it\'s a short visit. No time to visit the dry cleaners, if you catch my dri.. .. read more..
Winning and losing the Panjwaii
Friday, September 7, 2007
By David Common It was a vicious two weeks. During September 2006, in the place the movement was born, Taliban fighters gathered en masse in the Panjwaii Valley, presumably to prepare for an all-out assault on the nearby strategic city of Kandahar. Almost all of Canada\'s battle group was sent out a.. .. read more..