terrible photo, but an interesting story

My camera is acting up. I think I dropped it too many times so it now doesn't reliably autofocus, and my vision isn't as sharp as it could be in lower light.

This was a small intimate lunch in honor of the smaller hatless guy with the spectacles, who was the head of Pakistan's air force at the time of Bin Laden's killing. He is a very intelligent, unaffected, thoughtful, and very nice guy for all that he has seen and been through. He told us the story of being awakened at 2am by the head of the army or military, who said, "there are these helicopters in Abbottabad and we don't know who they are." Gave the order to fire upon them but was quite cautious in specifying to his pilots how to fly and what to do, knowing the risks. Though by that time the US was done and over the border. Knew that Obama was handing them a lifeline of sorts when he announced that Pakistan had assisted, but then caught all hell in his own country. Recommended that his government officially congratulate the US government. Handed over the downed US helicopter, untouched.

It was fascinating and unbelievably compelling.

The grinning guy with the cap is a friend who may be posted to Kabul soon.