The Road to Afghanistan - George Washington University

Chapter 1:VIRUS: How the invasion of Afghanistan infected us. How we were infected by theinvasion of AfghanistanSpringtime brings the roar of thunderstorms to the capital of Afghanistan. The clearand sunny morning skies darken perceptibly as the lengthening days draw towards noonand heavy black clouds creep over the mountain ranges, encompassing the city. The faintglean of heat that shimmers on the ground is sensed by the whole human organism beforethe sight recognizes it as the signal of the day’s transition from a radiant morning to asweltering afternoon. As the storm approaches, the lack of oxygen creates the impressionthat the encroaching thunderclouds are wringing out any remaining fresh air. In thesemoments the earlier polyphonic harmony of the city loses cohesion and the noises ofpedestrian activity begin to sound discordantly amplified and distorted by the incipientgloom. The wind picks up as nascent dust devils carry discarded papers, plastic bags, andother trash, all the while stinging skin and eyes with irritating sand. Suddenly a flash oflight, a delayed report of thunder, and a few ripe, warm drops fall scattered in the dustystreets, announcing the imminent downpour. Soon lightning will flash almost incessantly.The heavy storm clouds, laden with electricity, rapidly approach the capital until bolts oflightning seem to strike from directly overhead. Thunder becomes a continuous rumble.The storm will continue for an hour or two before the thunder relents and the blackclouds begin to disperse. The fallen rainwater forms puddles that are sucked into thegreedy soil right before your eyes. The clouds depart towards the same mountains overwhich they recently arrived and the sun once more begins to shine. The storms sap the6