Teach a man to fish. . .

Give a man a fish and he eats for a day; Teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime.

One problem–the proverb presupposes that there is a place to fish.  In Afghanistan, the biggest bodies of water are the evaporation lagoons of the westernized wastewater treatment plants and the irrigation ponds surrounding the ANA’s botanical gardens.

The photo at left appeared on the NTM-A website with the following caption:  “Afghan National Army soldiers unpack 70 Dell computers for use at the Regional Military Training Center Aug. 18. The ANA will use the computers to keep track of its supplies in [digital] form.”

Of what little I know about Afghans, this much is certain–“Afghan Right” is not computer-based.  What would Ghengis Khan or Attila the Hun have done with a computer?  So the obvious joy on the soldiers’ faces says one thing to me–PAYDAY (or Fantasy Fishing)!

Don’t be surprised if the billions of dollars of boats and tackle end up in the next Bassmaster tournament on ESPN.