(Click To Enlarge)A U.S. Navy F/A-18C Hornet flies over the desert of southern Afghanistan providing support to coalition forces on the ground in Afghanistan, Oct. 9, 2008. The aircraft and its pilot are assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 113, from the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and Carrier Air Wing 14. U.S. Navy photo by Cmdr. Erik Etz
From Time Magazine:
The police official peered into the passenger seat and took in my headscarf and shapeless clothes. "Where are you going?" he barked at my assistant, sitting at the wheel. "We are journalists, researching security conditions on the road," Ali answered. I lowered my sunglasses, thinking that my light eyes and obvious foreignness — usually a quick pass out of any brush with Afghan officialdom — would speed us through the inevitable interrogation. Instead, it only made the official more agitated. "Why don't you have a bodyguard?" he demanded. "This road is unsafe, people can be kidnapped."
"I don't want to stand out," I answered lamely. "Journalists don't have bodyguards."
The officer stared at me intently, then laughed mirthlessly. "You stand out anyway." He turned to Ali. "If something happens to her on this road you will be responsible." He waved us through the checkpoint and soon Ali and I were heading out of Kabul, towards Sarobi, an hour's drive away.
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My Comment: A good summary of the frustration that is felt on the street.