Slowish News Day in AFG (and What's Not Being Asked)

There's a concept in journalism known as "feeding the goat", whereby the reporter is obliged to fill the space/time waiting to be filled, no matter what's happening (or not). That's why good reporters keep undated material in their hip pockets, so to speak, to run at just such a time. For example, from CanWest's embed:

An Afghan army-led program that seeks to strengthen government control by improving public health in Taliban-rich areas could soon move into Kandahar province, where Canada's military and development efforts are concentrated. Maj. Mike Kaiser, a Canadian Forces medical officer, toured the village of Shinkay in adjacent Zabul province Monday to determine if the Afghan army's project to teach preventive health techniques to rural Afghans could be applied in Kandahar, where support for the Taliban is strong ....

and this from the Globe & Mail's embed:

Beyond its troops and tanks, Canada casts a long shadow at Kandahar Airfield, the hub of the coalition's Afghan mission. There's the Canadian gym, popular among the nearly 20,000 soldiers from other countries. So too is the on-base Tim Hortons, owned and operated by the Canadian Forces. The base's prominent Canadian-built hockey pad is home to a house league, which is dominated, naturally, by Canadian teams ....

In contrast, what does the Government of Canada want you to know? This:

(Monday) 48 students celebrated being the first graduating class of the newly opened Afghan National Customs Academy (ANCA). Canadian Ambassador William Crosbie joined senior Afghan officials, US colleagues and the students and teachers of the Academy for this important event. “It brings me great pleasure to be back at the academy to see the first class of the Afghan National Customs Academy graduate,” said Ambassador William Crosbie. “Canada is very pleased to be able to draw on our expertise to support the Government of Afghanistan in building their own customs capacity and supporting the nation’s commerce and revenue collection.” ....

Meanwhile, is anybody asking questions, or providing answers, on exactly what Canada's going to be doing once all the hockey equipment is shipped out of Kandahar Airfield? Anyone? Anyone?

(Crossposted at MILNEWS.ca blog)