A Visit from the Pope

Christmas is complete here in Afghanistan and it is back to business as usual. The holiday tone here was quiet, reserved. At a forward operating base, just having a down day is a gift. There isn't much reason to celebrate Christmas here. I was just happy to know that all of my family back home were safe and happy, and enjoying this time of the year.

There were actually a lot of flights coming in and out of the base yesterday. The various commanders make their battlefield circulations, showing their faces and shaking hands. I don't really get this particular hubris of commanders-- officers think that a visit somehow boosts morale. If they drop in for two hours and shake everyone's hand and say "good job, son", then they've done some sort of service for their troops. I love the entourage too-- there always has to be a cadre of pasty-faced Majors and Captains and Sergeant Majors, like the Pope and his Cardinals. Why can't a commander just travel with a small security detail-- two dudes with M-4's-- and that's it. It would make him seem much more down-to-earth, rather than giving the impression that he is an exalted-one. After all, back at home these guys are just mid-level bureaucrats who drive themselves to work just like everyone else. But I think that's it-- out here they get treated like and act like petty tyrants. That must be addictive.

The lower echelon commanders and Soldiers think these visits are a pain in the ass. There are extra details for policing up trash, shooting the dogs, making sure everyone is shaved and uniforms are clean. Having the higher levels of command around just sets everyone on edge, and ruins what would otherwise be a nice casual day. Spare us the sentiment; leaving your cushy office for a quick visit via your dedicated Blackhawk doesn't make you seem more sympathetic.

At the larger bases, units are ordered to serve as instant-audiences, so if the visiting dignitary comes in at 5am for a two hour visit, the audience has to be in place an hour early, just to sit around, then look good for the photo op, cheer and clap when prompted. If they didn't order people to go, then of course no one would come to listen to the Deputy Undersecretary of the Army spew sound bites about how well the war is progressing.