I am not really sure if it is a very good idea to give these people (particularly children in this case) things with ISAF logo...
Do they have ISAF protection 24h/7days a week?... Or have to dump such things very fast right after soldiers goes out from village?
-
Well, the last bunch of pictures deserve some commments. First of all, complete lack of captures distresses me a bit: if I did not know the source I would not have a clue what those photos suppose to represent. Well, soldiers giving some goodies away to some kids. What soldiers, what kids, so what? Guys please understand that this thread is also visited by those who don't speak Polish and cannot go back to sources and read the stories themselves. One does not need to translate the full story into English - just few hints will suffice.
One of the moderators of this forum, DeltaWhisky58, wrote about it just a week ago:
http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums...d.php?t=115055Whoever said that "a picture is worth a thousand words" may well have been correct, however a picture is worth much more with a proper caption.
When posting images anywhere on MP.Net, ensure that the image(s) are correctly captioned so that members are fully informed exactly what you have posted.
What those pictures are all about
A bunch of officers from Polish command of Polish Military Contingent at Bagram Airport base, Afghanistan, including high brass, decided to collect some money among themselves to buy some candies for kids from an orphanage in the nearby town of Charikar, Parvana province. Good for them! I believe that they did it from the bottom of their hearts.
But judging by other items on display - not all the gifts came from the officers' pockets. I only guess that some came from ISAF and some from the Polish CIMIC stores.
The story then goes on telling how the convoy, led by hummers, braved its way through the crowded streets, pushing the people aside.
And then there is description of the orphanage for 130 kids and a long list of items that are badly needed. The director said it straight on: new beds, sheets, cloths, window panes, bathrooms in terrible shape, school utensils, medicine and bottled water.
The inspection of the facility proved that tap water was undrinkable, dining room was full of flies and kitchen had only few meagre items. Bedrooms looked crowded and sad, classrooms had broken tables and chairs. The only bright spot was a very clean medical room - although with very limited medical supplies.
Children of course enjoyed the gifts and some were even smiling during examination of contents of the bags they received: notebooks, crayons, teddy bears. But they fought for every bottle of water, as one might have expected. How sad...
Returning to Bagram base the soldiers thought about futility of single charitable actions and about millions of dollars needed to rebuild that poor country.
My comments
That action was useless in my opinion and not comparable with similar actions carried by Polish Battle Grooup in Paktika. The latter suppose to buy minds and hearts of local population. The former was a charity and did nothing but recognized the problem of the orphanage - which should be professionally fixed by local CIMIC and PRT.
Last edited by Mishka Zubov; 07-06-2007 at 10:24 AM. Reason: misspelling "on" as "one"
That's OK, Taliban do not care about orphanages. The kids do not go anywhere but reside in that sad place. ISAF logo should not harm them.Originally Posted by Ritter
Winning hearts and minds, good. I hope they stuck some usefull stuff in those bags, pencils and even paper are very hard to get thers, so those kids can do alot of learning that way.
It's good to show teh future generation what western ways of living are about (I mean the good stuff) so when they grow up they can remember us as helpfull and gentile.
Why high resolution?
Why do you always post your pictures in high resolution? We surely do not need it for everything, but only for most interesting details, and only when asked by other forum members.
I have a reasonably fast internet connection, but still - it is annoying to see all your pictures being automatically resized to fit my G4 (Apple) laptop screen, max resolution 1024x762. It takes forever and consumes lots of memory.
I am also inclined to think that serving huge pictures from Polish servers to American users is not such a big idea. I do not know how fast they are.
The recommended image size for forum usage is 640x480. ImageShack will do it for you automatically. Yes, it takes some time to prepare posts via ImageShack, but you can learn quickly how to do it efficiently. This method has been described on this forum many times, but ask if you need help.
OK Mishka
Poland: Preparation for second change in PKW A-stan
Soldiers from 6 landing-assult brigade and from 17 mechanized brigade prepare for departure to Afghanistan.
BTW: Is it good Now?
One of the methods, using thumbnails - good. When expanding - high resolution again, but this is OK, I can wait for one selected picture.
BTW: Is it good Now?
Another method: get your pictures automatically stored in ImageShack in the 640x480 resolution (or 800x600 if you are loosing too many details) and then embed them as they are. Take a look at my post about Wazi-Khwa school. Do you miss any details there? They are only 640x480. If you are not sure about the format - pretend that you want to reply to that post and check the format of my message there.
Small test
Hi-res
Polish Battle Group, Company B, from Camp Ghazni
Pictures stolen from "Today's Pix - Friday, July 6, 2007" thread
[Courtesy MP user He219, Today's Pix - Friday, July 6, 2007]
[Courtesy MP user He219, Today's Pix - Friday, July 6, 2007]Afghan children and a Polish soldier assess each other while the Polish team leaders are talking with the village elders in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, June 23.
[Courtesy MP user He219, Today's Pix - Friday, July 6, 2007]Polish Maj. Thomas Stachera, commander of Polish Battle Group Company B, speaks with village elders in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, June 23. He is asking them about their village while his men hand out toys, candy, and school supplies to the local children.
[Courtesy MP user He219, Today's Pix - Friday, July 6, 2007]Polish 1st Lt. Thomas Novak, platoon leader for 2nd Platoon, Company B, Polish Battle Group, has a discussion with a town elder while in a remote area of Andar District, Ghazni province, Afghanistan June 26. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Micah E. Clare)
[Courtesy MP user Createdeemcee, Today's Pix - Friday, July 6, 2007]A Polish soldier gives out toys and candy to a crowd of children one evening at his field patrol base in Ghazni province, Afghanistan. Polish Battle Group Company B's mission was to travel throughout the district of Andar and make connections and form friendships with the locals there.
Two Polish soldiers from the 1st Platoon, Company B, Polish Battle Group, show an Afghan boy how to fly his new kite, June 24, 2007, in Andar District, Ghazni Province. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Micah E. Clare
You've missed one pic
Polish Sgt. Jack Jedrzejowski, a squad leader in 2nd platoon, Company B of the Polish Battle Group, stands nearby a Polish Rosomak vehicle while approaching a remote village in Andar District June 26. His platoon arrived there to deliver humanitarian aid and assess the area.
Oops, thanks.
Home Press Releases News Archive Newsletter Archive Coalition Newsletter عربي Links
NEWS RELEASE
HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND
7115 South Boundary Boulevard
MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101
Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894
Title:
THE REAL KITE RUNNERS FLYING THE AFGHAN SKIES
Release Date:
7/6/2007
Release Number:
07-01-03P
Description:
FORWARD OPERATING BASE SALERNO, Afghanistan — Even though best-selling books have painted pictures of Afghan children flying colorful kites high in blue skies against backdrops of snow-capped mountains that tower over quaint villages, not all Afghan children are fortunate enough to own such simple, yet wonderful toys.
However, when the Polish Battle Group arrived in Ghazni province’s Andar district near the end of June, the local children were finally able to take part in an activity shared by children in almost all countries in the world: flying kites.
While conducting patrols throughout Andar district during Operation Maiwand last month, the Polish soldiers of 1st and 2nd Platoons, Company B of the Polish Battle Group, made many humanitarian aid deliveries to the poor families living in the area.
The extreme poverty of some of the areas was quite a shock to many of the Polish.
“It seems like time stopped here 2,000 years ago,” said Polish Pfc. Chris Demko, a gunner on one of the giant Rosomak armored personnel carriers. “We see these kids running around with nothing, not even shoes, and we want to change that.”
Everywhere they went, children crowded around the vehicles as the smiling soldiers pulled out boxes of shoes, clothes, school supplies and toys. But the biggest hit of all were the multi-colored kites that the soldiers unfolded for them.
With big grins and excited chattering, the children jumped up and down shouting, “Patang! Patang!” (the Pashto word for kite.)
Soon the sky had several of the yellow, green and red kites with International Security Assitance Forces logos flying, much to the delight of the children dancing around below.
“These kites are so much fun,” said Mahmad-Amid Hahn, a 12-year- old boy, as he made whooping sounds while his kite dipped and swerved in the air. “The Taliban would never give us these things.”
For the children who had never seen a kite before, some of the Polish soldiers stepped in to assist, unfolding the kites and showing them how to take off with a running start to get it airborne.
“Any time spent with children is a good thing,” said Polish Pfc. Michal Ozog-Warclaw. “It is wonderful to see children who have been through so much with smiles on their faces.”
Ozog-Warclaw, who has a daughter of his own back home in Poland, spends as much time as he can with her when he is home.
“I spent many days playing with her just like this in the park, or forest,” he recalled.
While the children enjoyed their kites and new shoes, the Polish also gave out school supplies as an encouragement for them not only to play, but to learn and attend nearby schools.
The soldiers hope that their presence and influence in these areas will be able to help change an environment where the Taliban threatened parents against sending children to school.
“It is sad, because most children here have not had the same opportunities that my own daughter does,” Ozog-Warclaw explained. “It is not their fault either. Back in Poland, my daughter is developing in school in a safe, loving community where she is free to learn, play, and interact. Every person should have access to these things, because being educated is a weapon against people who would tell you to be something you are not.”
While the small youngsters who were screaming with excitement have many things to face as they grow older in their still unstable country, the pristine scene of children flying kites, completely free to enjoy their youth, still feels like it could come out of the pages of a book.
“We’re simply helping them make their lives better,” said Polish Maj. Thomas Stachera, commander of Company B, while watching the children playing as his men prepared to move on.
“I believe this to be a picture of what these people really want, a stable, peaceful, productive society,” he said. “These children are the ones who will be able to make it happen.”
Contact Information – CJTF-82 Public Affairs Office Tel – 0093-799-063-013
DSN: 318-231-7852
bagrammediacenter@afghan.swa.army.mil
For more news and information about CJTF-82, please visit www.cfc-a.centcom.mil/.
For more news and information about NATO's International Security Assistance Force - Afghanistan, please visit www.nato.int/isaf/
Why does the rosomak have a orange thing across its front.
fast identification?
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