Independence Day!!

Sunday was Independence Day in Afghanistan. Given the number of countries that have passed through, one might ask, 'Independence from who?' Well, it's from everyone's favorite former empire, the British, who got run out of here officially in 1919, after fighting on and off for about 80 years. (Churchill had some unpleasant things to say about the place). This follows last week's Pakistan and Indian celebrations of Independence from the British.

Let's face it--the one redeeming value of the British empire was the residue of Independence Holidays it left behind. At least in Afghanistan, like the US, we aren't driving on the wrong side of the road, and luckily cricket and its 5-day snore-fests never really took hold either. We just got a day off--and a 21-cannon salute that scared the bejeebers out of me when it first rattled our windows. Ha Ha. Very funny.

Oh ya, this picture of Karzai was from Independence Day 2002. I thought it was kind of cool.