The Quiet American - Imaginative
Fallujah’s End
Sunday 20th April 2004 - Afghanistan.
It has not always been like this. There was once peace in this land, though peace is now naught but a faded memory. When I first came here, i only saw the smiles of the kids in the streets just kicking a ball or running around. Now what I see is half broken roads with half or completely destroyed buildings with possibly 'invisible' bombs around the roads. Instead of travelling around this city in a taxi, I have to travel in a goddamn Humvee. 6 years ago it was, when I first landed here in a plane, being forced to come here to negotiate with the government of Afghanistan with that of mine, USA that is.
They call me the 'Mr. Negotiator' as apparently I can negotiate with other people on good terms which suits USA best. Firstly when I came here, I did not realise that I was doing good for only my home country, but aiming to change both sides for the greater good. I had always remained neutral, since I was a teenager. I had only taken the position of the head of foreign affairs for USA because I had believed it was the only job which could strive to make a change for the greater good for both sides. However, I had been foolish to realize that in the end, it was only USA gaining the benefits of my work.
"Here we are Mr. Allen," said the petty officer driving the Humvee.
"Thanks for the ride, I won't need the ride back today," I replied.
"No problem."
Back to the American air base in Fallujah, the last time I had been asked to come here was back 3 weeks ago when the first attack upon the building I had originally stayed in had been bombed to ashes. As all the soldiers had told me, that event would be listed as an experience in my life which would help shape my thoughts upon this war. I thought that to myself, thinking that if my own experiences had anything to do with my thoughts upon the wider situations, such as this war. Even conflicts I had been faced with in the past would not result in changing my mind
Sunday 20th April 2004 - Afghanistan.
It has not always been like this. There was once peace in this land, though peace is now naught but a faded memory. When I first came here, i only saw the smiles of the kids in the streets just kicking a ball or running around. Now what I see is half broken roads with half or completely destroyed buildings with possibly 'invisible' bombs around the roads. Instead of travelling around this city in a taxi, I have to travel in a goddamn Humvee. 6 years ago it was, when I first landed here in a plane, being forced to come here to negotiate with the government of Afghanistan with that of mine, USA that is.
They call me the 'Mr. Negotiator' as apparently I can negotiate with other people on good terms which suits USA best. Firstly when I came here, I did not realise that I was doing good for only my home country, but aiming to change both sides for the greater good. I had always remained neutral, since I was a teenager. I had only taken the position of the head of foreign affairs for USA because I had believed it was the only job which could strive to make a change for the greater good for both sides. However, I had been foolish to realize that in the end, it was only USA gaining the benefits of my work.
"Here we are Mr. Allen," said the petty officer driving the Humvee.
"Thanks for the ride, I won't need the ride back today," I replied.
"No problem."
Back to the American air base in Fallujah, the last time I had been asked to come here was back 3 weeks ago when the first attack upon the building I had originally stayed in had been bombed to ashes. As all the soldiers had told me, that event would be listed as an experience in my life which would help shape my thoughts upon this war. I thought that to myself, thinking that if my own experiences had anything to do with my thoughts upon the wider situations, such as this war. Even conflicts I had been faced with in the past would not result in changing my mind