The front-page news of ten humanitarian medical workers murdered in Afghanistan is so shocking because it
is so rare.

Every day in Afghanistan hundreds, maybe thousands westerners working with NGOs, aid groups and the media roam about the country unarmed or only armed with side arms.  When they complete their trips without event it is not news.

When I went on a roadtrip to Bamiyan province and came back only with photos of the lush valley and ancient ruins it was not news.  Had I been kidnapped and taken hostage, it would have been news.

This skews the public perception of what is happening in Afghanistan and ultimately affects US policy.

The murder by basmachi of ten dedicated people is a tragedy.  That it took their murder for their work to be reported in the media is a serious failing.

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