Here is a good example of what you see in the media, and then what the real truth is.

First I will post the story from www.thefrontierpost.com/News.aspx?ncat=an&nid=1035&ad=03-12-2008

KABUL (PAN): The newly built bridge in Bala Murghab in Baghdis province was inaugurated by local elders, ANSF officers and ISAF including Com. ISAF Gen. McKiernan at a shura on Sunday Acc. to a press release by ISAF HQ on Monday the new bridge supplements an old cracked bridge across the river Murghab, uniting schools and hospitals on one riverside with the population on the opposite side of the river. The bridge was built by the Afghan National Security forces, guided by ISAF engineers, and funded by ISAF. However, the construction was not easy. The work at the Bala Murghab bridge site has been very hard, said the bridges Italian field engineer, Officer Mario Giordano. At the beginning, it was an especially dangerous place to work. We had to build trust with the local population and assure them we were there to help. General McKiernan meant the bridge was an example of the positive change that could take place in Afghanistan, adding that: This is about improving the lives and the security, the government and the economic programs in this particular district.” The shura took part near Forward Operating Base Columbus, Bala Murghab, and Afghan Security Forces and tribal elders continued to the bridge where the ribbons were cut.

And now, here is the posting from Jon, who was there as part of this bridge mission.

During my career in the military I have seen some pretty ‘effed’ up things, but none so much as letting the Taliban escort bridge equipment to the bridge’s building site. I saw this occur when I was working out of Ghormache with the ETT”s (its about 10-15 kilometers from Bala Murghab). One day in late October, we were hearing word of the escorts coming through our Area of Operations on the main road. When the convey got to the road to Ghormache we learned that the village elders were the ones escorting it. We know that these are known Taliban elders, and could not believe that their own militia were the bridge’s security. These might have been some of the same guys we fought against a few days ago.

Now, I’m not an officer and I don’t always know what goes into most of the decisions made here in this country. I’m sure it is very difficult, but I feel whoever came up with the idea of the enemy escorting the equipment for the bridge connecting the 207th to the 209th Corps areas of operation didn’t think this one through! It was a bridge that was supposed to connect people and promote a stronger Afghanistan; however the enemy took complete credit for it locally. Sure you can say that ISAF took credit, but the people of Bala Murghab saw the elders bring the bridge. So what does that look like, and what do you think that looks like to the locals….come on people.