Brotherhood

Although long, the days give me a lot of time to think... There exists a special brotherhood for those involved in this lifestyle - it's a necessary thing to make up for the separation that we put ourselves in.  The brotherhood is a special bond that is not openly discussed, but you know it to be there.  Here, you learn quite quickly who you can depend on, who you cannot - and because you are around them all the time, you become aware of each person's idiosyncrasies be they be tolerable or intolerable.  

I will write on a future post about the Turks with whom I have been working, as well the Afghans and other nationalities. Aside from the military population, there exists another culture separate and distinct from our brothers in arms.  Some of these men have dedicated years of their lives to the war effort both in Iraq and Afghanistan.  They have provided the platforms from which the battles and campaigns have been launched - some going on for 5 and 6 years straight.  

Is it making a difference?  Time will tell.  I saw recently where someone in the media - or perhaps the Obama administration - stated that Iraq was a "war of convenience" and Afghanistan was a "war of necessity."  Yet they are both wars and both outcomes yet to be decided.  In the end, it doesn't matter how the engagement started, but it will certainly matter if not terminated right.

This is an interesting place to build a brotherhood.  It can never replace home...