Unforgotten histories in Afghanistan

In early January, I traveled to Kabul to begin a project with with Noah Coburn, my good friend and Williams classmate, who has researched and written extensively about Afghanistan.  The focus of our work is Bagram, site of one of the primary military airbases as well as archeological artifacts and features going back to Alexander the Great.  Bagram is home to mixed ethnic groups, nominally at peace, but whose uneasiness and mistrust of foreigners and one another speaks about the condition of the country.  

For a week, Noah and I toured the area and with the help of translators did a series of interviews of local people about their lives in Bagram and their relationship to the US presence.  The images and content will be developed into a talk and exhibition at Skidmore College on February 20, 2012.

 

The northeast side of Bagram where long stretches of open road hugged the mountains.

A view of the Korean hospital, inside the security barriers of Bagram airbase.  Note the old Russian troop transport on the left side.

One of the interview participants who claimed to favor American presence, despite disagreement from the other elders with him.

"Repair your mud walls today!"

A former government office and hotel in Istalif, not far from Bagram, which was torn apart by rocket blasts.

The Bagram room in the National Museum, where artifacts previously on tour have not been returned to for display.