My favorite writer is Joni. My second favorite writer is Sebastian Junger. I've been collecting his articles since way before he became well known for his book "The Perfect Storm." Anyway, he did an article on Afghanistan last fall. He spent a month with the anti-Taliban resistance in the northeast and got to know Massoud, the leader who was assassinated on Sept. 9. Well, I finally went back to re-read it. And I happened to hear an hour long interview he did with NPR today. SJ still has contacts in the anti-Taliban forces and has talked with them since 9/11. Interestingly, he asked them if they wanted U.S. troops on the ground with them. They said, no, that the U.S. has already lost too many lives. They just want our help. (financial, advice, and weapons.) They really do know how to fight in that terrain. (No, I'm not advocating war, just stating what's likely, unfortunately.) He's got an article in this month's Vanity Fair about Macedonia. My first thought is "oh shit, you mean we have to worry about Macedonia now too???" And he was in Moldavia on Sept. 11, so I guess we can expect more cheery news from there at some point. Oh, and btw, he reported from Kosovo a year before the war there, kind of indicating what could (and eventually did) happen. I'd say, just stay home Sebastian, except for one small detail. He lives in Manhattan. I'm bummed I'll miss tonight's National Geographic channel program at 8:00. It will probably be really insightful. (yup, that's one final plea for someone to tape it) lots of love Anne
