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Finding Purpose In A Land Under Siege: My Trip To Afghanistan by Romany Malco
Posted 9 hours 47 min ago by Romany Malco
If you had asked me a few months ago what I thought about the war in Afghanistan, I would have had a lot to say. I’m never shy about voicing my opinions. But I probably wouldn’t have mentioned money. Now that I’ve been over there courtesy of the USO, I see money – and big business taking precedence over life – as a recurring theme of the war.
I accepted the USO’s invitation to visit our troops in April, but didn't want this to be some poseur mission, shaking hands and taking pictures while never really getting to connect with the troops and expressing my earnest appreciation. As a former Marine, I was happy to know that Wipeout host Jill Wagner – daughter of a Marine – would be accompanying me.
As my departure date neared, I feared the trip could be a big mistake. I'm very vocal on Twitter and Facebook about my diminishing faith in the US Government amidst the corporate takeover. I wondered how many gung-ho soldiers, airmen, devil-dogs, etc. had taken offense at my rants, but it was too late to turn back.
Before entering Afghanistan we had to be checked into the Manas Airbase Transit Center in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The base was like a city built within a city: equipped with its own hospital, barber shop, massage parlor, Burger King, commissary, recreation center and night club called Pete's Place (named after NY Fire Department Chief Peter Canci who died on 9/11). Every penny spent on the Manas Airbase (from food and beverage to construction) had to be accounted for. The entire operation was ripe with independent contractors from across the globe. The Kyrgyzstan government charges $60 million a year to share their Bishkek airport with our military! That agreement also requires US Military to hire a percentage of local civilians. It was business as usual.
http://globalgrind.com/news/finding-purpose-land-under-siege-trip-afghanistan-romany-malco-photos
Before he acted he rapped. He has an eye and a voice.