One step at a time

From Windsor Star Reporter Doug Schmidt's blog - Outside the Wire. The blog doesn't include comments, but you can email Doug at his Windsor Star email address.

A Spoonful of Sugar

But then the soldiers began engaging the elders and the mood began to change. The first women ventured out from their compounds and joined the ranks of the healthy men who were the only ones lined up to see a doctor. The Canadians and the Brits started mingling and, despite the uniforms and weapons, a somewhat warm rapport began to develop. The Afghan Army types, at first a tad brutal (in my eyes) with locals who didn't toe the line (literally), and were subjected to loud words and the occasional swinging stick or cuff on the head, also began to loosen up, perhaps as they saw the way the Canadians were interacting in that great way that Canadians seem to have when it comes to engaging others abroad, even if it's a war zone.

A few hundred people got to see the doctors and get some medicine, but most importantly, hearts and minds were swayed today, and at the cost of only one shot fired (an embarrassed ANA soldier who accidentally discharged his AK-47).

Doug is also posting some great shots of Afghanistan, including one of the most unique buses that I have ever seen.

Cross-posted to Blue Blogging Soapbox