Why I Am Going to Afghanistan

As I prepare for my trip to Afghanistan, part of our Rethink Afghanistan documentary campaign, I find myself devouring every book and article I can. The goal is to understand as much as possible before I arrive in Afghanistan.

The big focus is to ask the questions. And from experience, I know the best guides are all of you. When I went on The Colbert Report, many of you provided me with smart ideas, good frames and perspective. When I testified before Congress, the support and input from many of you was critical to fighting off the attacks.

What are the key issues and questions that we should be focused on now regarding Afghanistan?

What would you like to learn from an Afghan blogger? How does she/he reach their audience? How do they interact online? How do they deal with lack of internet access?

If you were in the room with me, what would you ask members of the Afghan peace movement?

In interviewing Afghan elected officials, what interests you? What do you want to know?

As the stakes rise in this war and Afghanistan moves to the forefront of people's awareness, we are hearing over and over from various experts and pundits that we must do 'xyz' so the Afghan people will do 'abc'. But I see very few conversations with the wise women and men of Afghanistan -- leaders, writers, thinkers, and activists.

So join me by sending your questions and thoughts; I will consider all of them as I cull ideas. We are also well aware of the very serious security issues, and we are taking all precautions.

I look forward to sending you reports via video blogs and Twitter. I can't count on Internet connection while I'm abroad, but I will have my Blackberry with me and will be doing everything possible to get regular video blogs out. In the meantime, you can sign up to receive my dispatches from Afghanistan here.

Comments

[oxi]

I want to see pictures of the massive TAPI oil pipeline that is under construction, that is if NATO troops will let you near the reason they are there?

[Asean4Obama]

Maybe as an advise, if I would visit Afghanistan, I would go first and write the articles and after I get the results I would actually post that I was in Afghanistan and after I see some results I would actually put a donate button on my website. Have you ever been in Afghanistan or in Iran or Pakistan? Do you speak the language such as Dari, Pashto or Persian?

Your website really doesnt say anything of what you are doing in Afghanistan besides asking questions.

This is the 3rd posting in one month on HP that someone is going to Afghanistan to make a documentary. It would be better if you would stay in the States and sponsor some human right groups or some other NGO's in Afghanistan.

Any way good luck..

[Asean4Obama]

You can use Afghan Mobile to connect to the internet. If you are in the border area with Pakistan you can pick up a GPRS connection with Telenor Pakistan or Orascom. Your Blackberry can't be used with most operators in Afghanistan but if you have a quad-band it should be fine.

[IGNSTHMD]

who are the combatants and if they are unidentified how do we create a (figurative) dialog with something other than indescript violence and retaliation for the same.
What are the military goals and reference points (i.e. development of local interior defences) in the Afgan war/War on terror?
is it legitamate to ask for transperancy of logistics and if not who do we contact in washington to appease our acknowledgement and accountability (the accountability office?)
how many american lives will this cost
how many Afgans will suffer
When will we pull out (be it victory or otherwise)?
What is an acceptable casulty rate?
how do you stop local terrorism from growing (is the resistance being observed would be terrorism or responsive tenament); what are people that become terrorist doing that causes them to assoaciate and become involved in radical activities.
If there is no cause and effect solution created will the disaffectedness induceded by poverty (sympathizers, volunteers, etc) inhibit a consensus on whom the enemy is or might be
What is the chronology of Afganistan up to now
What is the MO for suppressing the terrorist element
How is having a war in Afganistan different from stopping terrorism (worldwide)?

[IGNSTHMD]

to the afghan leadership I would ask what resources they need to keep the country free of cavelier terrorism. Or, how ingrained is the notion of patriotism amongst those outside industrialized sectors; how many people does that account for and of those which will take to militancy or terrorism. Or, how is Afghanistan different from Iraq. Or, illustrate the human loss. Or, name the three biggest problems in Afghanistan to date. Or, why is the Taliban so influential here. Or, what is an outcome for the foreseeable future?