Fuck no, I want to get as far away from those people. A place that Kidnappings, assassinations, and BEHEADINGS happen all the time doesn't sound like a place I'd enjoy going on vacation to???
This is why I want to go over there. People seem to think that its some daily ritual to go out kidnap someone and cut off their heads and post it on youtube...
Traveling the world is a dream of mine. And Afghanistan is part of the world so yes. There's risks involved in traveling anywhere, so. I'd like to be able to experience all kinds of cultures around the globe, even though most people might not find the territory i wander across "safe".
i would just love to see all the landmarks, new and ancient. and the birth place of brainwashing. ooops, i mean religion.
I don't think i would, becuase there isn't enough things that interest me there. I'd have to rely on translators, so wouldn't really be able to interact with the native population properly, and I don't think they'd approve of my finicky diet (based on my ignorant assumption that they pretty much dont have a large choice to what they can eat, and are thankfull for anything). This is probably the same reasons i wouldn't travel to half of the world if given the chance (or even a free ticket)
I've been to Iraq and Afghanistan (Us Military). If you honestly think you could go over there and "learn" the customs and culture, you're sorely mistaken if you're not on an American Base. The last time two American's went off post without an armed escort.....they were lured into an alley and killed. And they were at least Navy, so they had some degree of training. In Iraq I think my convoy's got hit by about 13 IED's....in Afghanistan about 4...on random roads, in random places. You can't just "go" to Afghanistan. No flight will take you into the country. They don't have their own air planes. You'd have to hire a private flight, and even then private flights aren't allowed to fly over Afghanistan and certainly not allowed to land in the country. Know those backpackers that got kidnapped by Iran? Yeah....least they run a shot at getting released. In Afghanistan they'd at best make a video of them cutting your head off.....so people have something to remember you by. Otherwise, yes, it's a fairly interesting country. Very ancient. Many of the mountain tribes live exactly as they did a thousand years ago. In fact, many of the northern tribes are so remote they don't even know a war is going on. To be honest they probably wouldn't harm you. Clearly not everyone in Afghanistan is the enemy. Hell 99.999% of them are farmers, villagers, tribesman, etc....and wouldn't harm you in the slightest. It's the other .001% that would love to "find" you roaming around the land....and make a point out of you. Though even the villagers couldn't genuinely be trusted. Bad guy offers them $500 for your location, for some residents of Afghanistan that's more money than they'll see in a lifetime. If you came tromping around my country and someone offered me more money than I'll see in a lifetime for you.......Sorry dude.
That crap happens there as often as it does in Afghanistan. The difference is that the people doing it can get people directly from the states.
Yeah, save over there everyone wears body armor and carries a weapon. Been there. Get attacked from time to time, blown up from time to time. Not everyone from my unit in either Iraq or Afghanistan made it home.
Well to be honest, wearing full military gear is pretty much equivalent to wearing a huge fucking bullseye. We dont have military roaming the streets but we still have war, people walking around wearing armor, and carrying weapons Also to respond to your other post, I wont doubt an armored escort would be necessary.
Scarth my previous post. There's only one true home for me. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHdXQAQHjd8"]YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.[/ame]
No, if you're talking about visiting without protection. Last week a British aid worker got kidnapped by Insurgents and because she was in a Province controlled by the U.S. (I believe it was in the Northern parts of the country), they sent U.S. Marine's in to rescue her, but it's believed she was killed by a grenade thrown by a Marine. Don't get me wrong, I'm not hating at all, the yanks are better equipped than the Brits and these guys were risking their own lifes, my point? Man, that story scared the shit outta me, there is no way in hell I'd visit, look at what can go wrong! I used to want to be a medic in the army, but under international law, Medics cannot fire upon the enemy unless they are fired on. They can't even fire back if they're squad is pinned down, only if they themselves or an injured comrade is being fired on specifically, I mean, do you really think the Taliban are following the rules? its just fucking crazy over there, and no way in hell would I go near that country
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbIFmPBsN7Q]YouTube - Afghanistan 5/6[/ame] I wouldn't go without fear.