A Cautionary Tale

Boy Wonder convinced me that I should put this bit of my history out here, because it has a direct relation to what's happening today.

When I was a Marine Security Guard at the embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, like everyone with money we had a ton of servants. We had two housekeepers, a tailor, a guard, a laundry man and a cook. The cook, Mohammad Chefias Khan, was the highest paid servant in the capitol and worth every cent. He was more of a friend to us than a servant.

One day on his day off, a few of us decided to surprise him with a visit. He lived in the third village north of Murree Hill Station, about an hour's drive up into the foothills of the Himalayas. The village was built on both sides of a steep valley.

When we got there, several men - heavily armed men - asked what we wanted. My Urdu was pretty pathetic and their English was nonexistent, but we managed to get our message across. They signaled that we were to wait in the car while a young lad took off down the valley and halfway up the other side, where he disappeared into a house.

About a minute later the lad came running back and rattled off an incomprehensible string of Urdu, but he must have said the right things, because those guarding us all broke into smiles and welcomed us with hugs.

They led us to "Cheffy's" house where, according to custom we were greeted as honored guests. We were introduced to the chief of the tribe and spend a wonderful afternoon there.

Now, this was around 1971 - 1972, and Pakistan and the U.S. were friends. But once you got into tribal areas that "friendship" didn't cut much ice. I'd hate to think of what would have happened if any of us would have done something stupid.

That area is in the north central area of Pakistan - nowhere near the borders. Now go forward 30 years. If you were to go to one of the border tribal areas uninvited looking for someone who didn't want to see you, your life wouldn't be worth two pice.

People can't understand why bin Laden hasn't been found. My little tale should give you some idea as to why. I'll really enjoy watch the Democrats - assuming they get into power - following up on their claim that they'll be able to just waltz in and get him.