New school brings hope for Afghan youth

Story and photo by Sgt. Greg Heath, 4th Public Affairs Detachment

PAKTIA PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Twenty-three years ago formal education along
with the schoolhouse for the children of Dara and the surrounding area vanished.

The schoolhouse in Dara – which serviced thousands of families – was destroyed
during the Russian occupation of Afghanistan, and since then has left a
generation of children suffering.

New hope emerged when the U.S. Provincial Reconstruction Team out of Gardez laid
down the foundation for the renewed education of Paktia youth when they helped
rebuild the new Dara School. The school had its grand opening Aug. 27.

“A good education will prepare these children and give them the tools to be
future leaders in the community,” said acting commander of Combined Joint Task
Force 180, Major Gen. Zannie Smith, who attended the school opening along with
other dignitaries including Paktia provinces’ governor Asadullah Wafa and the
senior political advisor to U.S. military operations in Afghanistan, Ambassador
Victor Jackovich.

Built on a concrete base and reinforced steel frame, the vibrant, new school
stands out like a beacon among the mud and brick walled homes which dominate the
area.

The new school took four months to build and cost $76,000, according to Maj.
Mark Donlon, 407th Civil Affairs Battalion, Gardez PRT.

Initially the school is expected to enroll 300 students, but the numbers are
expected to quickly grow, according to Paktia Director of Education Abdul
Moslin.

Years of fighting Russian occupation and then living under the Taliban had
driven many of the families of Paktia province to neighboring countries Pakistan
and Iran.

“We will encourage the refugees from Iran and Pakistan to return home,” said
Wafa. “After the people hear about this (and the other programs being started by
the PRT) hopefully they will return.”

By next year the school is expecting to enroll more than 1,200 students. The
school day will be split in half, with boys being taught in the morning and
girls in the afternoon.

“We are very happy because education is very important to making things better
for the Afghan people,” said Mahammed Aqbal, one of the future students. “I want
to become a doctor or engineer and to help keep peace in our country.”

For now the school will train new teachers to prepare for the group of Afghan
youth that will become the future leaders of their country.

“This is a great gift,” Wafa said. “We will not forget this.”
_________________________

All is not bad!

John
On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD

JohnH wrote:
New school brings hope for Afghan youth

Story and photo by Sgt. Greg Heath, 4th Public Affairs Detachment

PAKTIA PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Twenty-three years ago formal education along
with the schoolhouse for the children of Dara and the surrounding area vanished.


More military b.s., JohnH?


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On Sat, 20 Dec 2003 07:38:10 -0500, Harry Krause wrote:

JohnH wrote:
New school brings hope for Afghan youth

Story and photo by Sgt. Greg Heath, 4th Public Affairs Detachment

PAKTIA PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Twenty-three years ago formal education along
with the schoolhouse for the children of Dara and the surrounding area vanished.


More military b.s., JohnH?

It's gotta be negative to be good, huh?


John
On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD

It's gotta be negative to be true, John. Afterall, Harry is a yellow-dog
Democrat, and negativity is the only message coming out of the Democratic
party anymore.


"JohnH" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 20 Dec 2003 07:38:10 -0500, Harry Krause
wrote:

JohnH wrote:
New school brings hope for Afghan youth

Story and photo by Sgt. Greg Heath, 4th Public Affairs Detachment

PAKTIA PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Twenty-three years ago formal education
along
with the schoolhouse for the children of Dara and the surrounding area
vanished.


More military b.s., JohnH?

It's gotta be negative to be good, huh?


John
On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD

JohnH wrote:
On Sat, 20 Dec 2003 07:38:10 -0500, Harry Krause wrote:

JohnH wrote:
New school brings hope for Afghan youth

Story and photo by Sgt. Greg Heath, 4th Public Affairs Detachment

PAKTIA PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Twenty-three years ago formal education along
with the schoolhouse for the children of Dara and the surrounding area vanished.


More military b.s., JohnH?

It's gotta be negative to be good, huh?


John
On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD


Good, bad, or indifferent, if it is from military PR, it isn't to be
believed. The military PR machine has a well-deserved reputation for lying.


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"Harry Krause" wrote in message

...The military PR machine has a well-deserved reputation for lying.

If so, they DO have something in common with the DNC, after all!

"John Gaquin" wrote in message
...

"Harry Krause" wrote in message

...The military PR machine has a well-deserved reputation for lying.

If so, they DO have something in common with the DNC, after all!



And Unions and Ullico.

"Harry Krause" wrote in message
...
JohnH wrote:
New school brings hope for Afghan youth

Story and photo by Sgt. Greg Heath, 4th Public Affairs Detachment

PAKTIA PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Twenty-three years ago formal education
along
with the schoolhouse for the children of Dara and the surrounding area
vanished.


More military b.s., JohnH?

More Union b.s., Harry?

"Calif Bill" wrote in message link.net...
"Harry Krause" wrote in message
...
JohnH wrote:
New school brings hope for Afghan youth

Story and photo by Sgt. Greg Heath, 4th Public Affairs Detachment

PAKTIA PROVINCE, Afghanistan ? Twenty-three years ago formal education
along
with the schoolhouse for the children of Dara and the surrounding area
vanished.


More military b.s., JohnH?

More Union b.s., Harry?

What "Union b.s." did Harry state in this thread?

basskisser wrote:
"Calif Bill" wrote in message link.net...
"Harry Krause" wrote in message
...
JohnH wrote:
New school brings hope for Afghan youth

Story and photo by Sgt. Greg Heath, 4th Public Affairs Detachment

PAKTIA PROVINCE, Afghanistan ? Twenty-three years ago formal education
along
with the schoolhouse for the children of Dara and the surrounding area
vanished.


More military b.s., JohnH?

More Union b.s., Harry?

What "Union b.s." did Harry state in this thread?


I've now seen three separately sourced articles that indicate the mighty
U.S. military machine did NOT find Saddam, but that he was "captured" by
a local force and then the mighty U.S. military machine was led to where
he was stashed.

I don't know yet if it is true, but if it is, it plops yet another big
lie in the lap of the U.S. military, which hasn't told much in the way
of the truth on things that matter since the beginning of the War
Against Vietnam.

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Email sent to is never read.