Detainee Flight
August 8, 2008
Blindfolded and bound, the detainees sat across from me, silent and impassive, though they were surely scared out of their wits by the experience of riding on a helicopter for the first time in their lives. I'd watched them march single file out onto the tarmac, eyes covered with blacked out goggles and holding to each others shoulders, flanked by armed Marines and led by an interpreter. It would be the height of understatement to say these men's lives would never be the same.
But it was hard to feel sorry for them - because the reason they were sitting across from me on the dark flight to Kandahar was because they were suspected of being responsible for the IED blast that almost killed my friend Chris Jackson August 3 - an act that definitely changed the lives of the two Marines badly wounded by the attack.
Quick, precise intelligence on the part of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit led to their capture within 24 hours of the attack - though I'm not at liberty to discuss exactly how. But suffice it to say that the evidence against them is strong, and after their capture, they've been given much better treatment by the wounded Marines bretheren than they would have given had the roles been reversed.
Once the flight landed, the detainees were led out onto the tarmac and made to crouch on the edge of the tarmac and await the next leg of their journey, which will eventually bring them before a court of law, most likely here in Afghanistan. One of the detainees handlers went down the line of flex-cuffed men and gently placed a bottle of water in the hands of each man, and an interpreter spoke with them and checked their bonds. Later, I learned why we'd been kept waiting on the flightline and our flight had been held until after sundown - so these Muslim extremists wouldn't have to miss their evening prayers. At first that didn't sit right with me - surely missing a prayer time couldn't be construed as torture or mistreatment - so why force the rest of us to suffer in the heat any longer than necessary?
But then I realized - that's how this war gets won - we must take the moral high ground even, perhaps especially in the little things.
For the last four days as I've walked on patrol with these incredibly tough Marines - I've felt sad knowing that there probably isn't anyone within a hundred miles of Garmsir who could teach these people about the love and forgiveness of the God I serve. Even if they didn't accept it, at least they should have the right to know. And I wondered how that could ever happen, since these devout Muslims would certainly be hostile to any Christian brave enough to live in their midst.
But maybe, just maybe, one of these men sitting across from me might find the Truth of God's love now that he's being forcibly removed from that environment. Maybe one of them will be the one to bring that good news to Garmsir someday.
Sure, it's a long shot, but the God I serve is really good at long shots.
Chuck Holton
www.livefire.us
BOOTS ON THE GROUND Main Page >>
A caring friend will be there to pray with you in your time of need.
