Aug
02
2009
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In Dubai |
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Written by JD Johannes
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Monday, 03 August 2009 |
A few days ago I posted about all the delays and things that kept happening to slow down my trip to Afghanistan and how I was asking God, "got anymore surprises?"
Well, one more at least. Mechanical problem leading to flight cancellation of the Atlanta to Dubai flight.
No big deal.
The big trick was managing the logistics of everything that got moved back a day and doing it on the fly.
So far, the patchwork plan looks like it will work and be far more entertaining than the original plan.
In fact the way things are shaping, I am tempted to to jump right into some unilateral work. But, an infantry unit is expecting me so I will cover them first and try to get a handle on the tactical situation in at least one area.
Then...who knows.
But I have three basic missions beyond shooting some quality video to turn into TV.
1. Assess transhipment Kabul to Kyber and commercial prospects.
2. Election observation.
3. Tactical analysis of areas I see.
Some think-tank, NGO types asked if I could give them my input and I'm always happy to help.
I have a quick over-night in Dubai before I fly commercial into Kabul International where I'll be met at the airport by a pair of Afghans who work for a friend of mine in the logistics business.
We will have to make a few stops in Kabul then they will drop me off at the US military base at Bagram. As in drop me off outside the gate. Actually this is a situation that always scares me--lots of rifles pointed in my direction held by men and women who can shoot with precision.
Dubai...for those who are curious, is a lot like Las Vegas--garish, audacious, but ultimately built on sand.
It is a transhipment point, a business hub, but has very little home-grown industry. Dubai was and possibily is the ultimate bubble.
When the dollars were sloshing around, people wanted to buy into the action--but like many places during the bubble, the only action to get in on was the action of people getting in on the action.
Dubai's future, its real future, is based on it being a place open to the west that is safe, where things are reliable, where disputes can be settled fairly and business conducted with the same level of trust and ease as in the west--if not more so than the west.
I am staying near the Palm Islands, you know, the man-made islands that looks like a palm tree. I even found a little elevation, but a mild sand storm haze is blocking the view.
For the next few hours it is the safe and construction zone littered Dubai. Then a quick flight and I'm in Kabul.
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