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| Afghanistan |
| "Rambo" the gatekeeper protects American lives |
| 2007-03-07 |
| by Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science Monitor The name tag on his broad chest says "Rambo," and though he wears US Army fatigues, he speaks in perfect Dari, ordering the crowd to leave. It reluctantly disperses. This is a normal day for Rambo, an Afghan who has stood guard here for more than four years, pledging his life to the American soldiers that rid his land of the Taliban. But on Jan. 16, Rambo's gatekeeping made him a bona fide hero. On that day, Rambo wrenched open the driver's side door of a moving car and wrestled a suicide bomber into submission before he could detonate his explosives. President Bush lauded him in a nationally televised speech several weeks ago, and before that, slightly exaggerated accounts of his feat circled through cyberspace, pleading for America to offer him citizenship or at least a medal. On this gray day, amid the intermittent raindrops of a coming storm, Rambo seems somewhat weary of the story, asking a lieutenant whether he really needs to tell it again. So far as he is concerned, his only job is to protect those American soldiers at the gate. It is why he has taken only four days off in more than four years, even working Fridays, though that is the Muslim day of rest. But the lieutenant kindly requests Rambo's patience. To Rambo, that is an order. "If you want me to do it, I will do it," he tells her with martial deference. In fairness, his story is not just about the day he stopped a suicide bomber, when the steel of his resolve to protect American troops became so apparent to all who did not know him. To those who do, who gave him the "Rambo" nickname, the name tag, and the stick, his devotion was already evident. . . Go read it all. "Rambo" is one of those Americans who was born in the wrong place. |
| Posted by:Mike |
| #6 He deserves it. |
| Posted by: newc 2007-03-07 23:03 |
| #5 hey a very neat story Mike. Quite the stud eh, I'm sure the soul-less Taliban have a fatwa on his head. |
| Posted by: RD 2007-03-07 22:53 |
| #4 Then there is real hope for the Afghans. Thank you Mike, Anguper Hupomosing9418. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2007-03-07 22:08 |
| #3 There are quite a few like him in Afghanistan. Some of them work for us. |
| Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 2007-03-07 21:57 |
| #2 Sniff, sniff, why even Nostradamus says, "GET ME RAMBO"! And to think it only took 30+ yarns for Stallone to plan his new film. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2007-03-07 21:48 |
| #1 Agreed, Mike. We need about a million more like him. |
| Posted by: DanNY 2007-03-07 21:32 |