Pessimism dominates. Most people dealing with the elections believe either they will not happen in September or they will be the catalyst for lots of violence. Security concerns mean that many areas of the south and east are off limits for UN personnel. However, and organization called, Global, have been hired to get out to these and other risky areas to set up registration sites and survey for the elections. A couple have been killed so far. Most of them are ex soldiers and some look like mercenaries which they are. Some estimate that up to 30% of the UNAMA electoral international staff will leave or not renew their contracts before September. As one said, ‘There are lost of different agencies doing their own thing with very little coordination.’ Add to this the generally accepted inadequacy and incompliancy and things do not look too good.

Poppies are doing well. The eradication has helped the distribution of money. Soldiers confront poppy growers, as long as they are not stepping on the toes of strong militia commanders, and get paid off. If they are not paid they destroy the poppies. Te other night I had a drink with some Dynaco (excuse the spelling) people. Some of you may have heard of them from reputation. Put it into google. They looked rough as hell and are. They do personal protections and various dirty jobs. One, an explosives expert, would not tell me his job here but a friend of his after a few drinks said they are here to destroy the poppies. Lots of bullshit machismo and drink. People who do not know think Afghanistan is dry. One of the problems with internationals is drinking too much and the Thursday night parties which see people staggering out at 4 am.

I did not end up in Kandahar trying to get women to register to vote as was predicted. I am now working for IOM in Kabul trying to get grants for construction, women’s issues and media passed. The money comes from USAID who of course want to support Karzai and forward their agenda. I have to explain in my proposals how the grants will further the interests of the government and the US. Still the Afghans are not stupid and need potable water and women’s rights education and roads and poultry courses etc etc so I bite my lip and write the bullshit.

Most of life is behind 3.8 m walls in the office compound with cars being checked underneath for bombs with mirrors on sticks and 3.8 m walls in overpriced guest houses. This raises the stress level as does new news of killings. As a result lots of parties and drinking which actually increases rather than reduces stress. Supprised, (perhaps I should not be by now), by the racism expressed. One Australian UN worker to make his point about the relative importance of September 11th over the US crimes in Indonesia, East Timor, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam etc compared the killing of 50 Indonesians and 50 Brits and asked how I would feel. When I said the same. I do not judge the life of one nationality to be more important than another. I was told I was talking shit. Do not think we will be close. He is having a breakdown over his job but says he likes the money. A British soldier explained to a group of friends why he did not like to live in England anymore, ‘It is full of foreigners now’. Many UN internationals are planning their next mission. Somewhere with a beach and not much trouble seems to be the main criteria. Unfortunately the Afghans can not move on.