Holiday in Kabul
Every once in a while, you see a line from a newspaper story which begs to be it’s own story. Sometimes the fact mentioned in passing seems far more interesting or important than the story to which it adds context. I think this line from an article in the Chicago Tribune about the reintroduction of alcohol into Afghanistan is one such instance:
"As of late March, 84 businesses were licensed to serve liquor in Kabul, according to tourism officials."
According to tourism officials?! Plural?! Jumping the gun (no pun intended) a bit here, aren’t we?
Don’t forget the prescience of punk legends Circle Jerks and their song "Paid Vacation" c. 1980:
I hope you’re having fun
where’s your uniform? where’s your gun?
better rub up that suntan oil
’cause you’ll be fighting in the desert, in the hot sun
it’s not..Vietnam
just another oil company scam
salute that flag of Uncle Sam
get your money out, place your bets
it’s Afghanistan!
fix bayonets,chuck grenades
got enough bullets,
got enough rounds to wipe out this place?
We’re the infantry & the cavalry
parachutes fill the sky,bodies burn and people die
