Enemy at the Gates

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Bagram Air Base | Photo 03

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Yesterday the seemingly impregnable Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan was rocketed with two US military deaths and six injured-two of who were civilians.  This points to an ominous corner we turned in the war in Afghanistan  as this attack was more than one on a base-it was an attack on the our sense of safety.  Bagram with its Burger King, Pizza Hut an numerous gyms has all the trappings and feel of a large base in the US.  In fact it was often described as “no different than a Ft. Campbell or a Ft. Bragg with dust storms.”   Yesterday’s attack is a wake up to the reality of what we face with an emboldened enemy. Our thinking has always been there are forward operating bases on the front lines and then there are places like Bagram where the threat is low if any at all.  Much like the heinous attacks of 9/11 shook up (at least for a time) the US public causing us to realize we all are on the front line when it comes to terrorists attacks-the events at Bagram yesterday teaches us that all of our assets on the ground are in harm’s way.  The renewed effort in Afghanistan which is the cornerstone of the White House’s new strategy will change the nature of this war and the way we perceive it.  As we push into long held Taliban areas the level of violence will no doubt escalate both on the battlefield and in the cities of Afghanistan.  It follows that this escalation will lead to more deaths both with Coalition Forces and Afghan civilians.  And yes, even the Pizza Hut on Bagram will be stripped of its once seemingly cloak of safety as we head into these unchartered waters.