Crossing The Wire: One Woman's Journey Into The Hidden Dangers Of The Afghan War

Features of Crossing the Wire: One Woman's Journey into the Hidden Dangers of the Afghan War

When an explosive US military report on the topic of sexuality in southern Afghanistan was leaked into mainstream American media it generated a firestorm of attention and reaction While some of the findings regarding Afghan sexual practices were simply of cultural interest other findings were of grave humanitarian concern such as the cyclical abuse of young boys perpetuated over countless generationsBecause the topic became sensationalized the author of the report Dr AnnaMaria Cardinalli was discouraged to see her findings somewhat distorted in a public light In this book she takes the opportunity to provide the context of her research which is as unique and revealing as the report itselfInstead of a further academic account this book is the authors journalin fact journeya personal invitation into the life and rare experience of a woman working on the farthest front of the War on Terror As a member of one of the Pentagons Human Terrain Teams in the Pashtun south of Afghanistan this read is not only interesting for its findings on Afghan sexuality but for its intimate window into the fascinating and almost surreal difficulty of our militarys job in that country and beyond and the surprisingly indispensable place of a womans hand in the world of warThrough the authors eyes we ultimately experience the ways in which the issue of Afghan sexuality has profound impact on concerns from womens rights to Afghanistans economic development and security to the recruitment and development of the terrorist threat to the Western worlda threat she argues we will not be free of without attention to this cycle of violenceIt is also fascinating in these pages to see how cultural sexism is not simply the province of semimedieval Central Asians but is also present in our own politicomilitary culture as the author describes firsthand This book goes far beneath the headlines of our seemingly endless war in Afghanistan to inform us of the exact situation among the opposition weve faced in more important ways than one It is mustreading for every citizen concerned with oursor the Afghansprogress henceforth in that regionAnnaMaria Cardinalli has had an unusually varied career in both the performing arts and service to her country A classicalflamenco guitarist and operatic singer she became an international recording artist while still a teenager A car accident having set back her musical career she was accepted into the doctoral program in Theology at Notre Dame and at age 24 became the youngest person awarded a PhD from the university After September 11 2001 she responded to a call from the FBI for individuals with advanced degrees and culturalreligious expertise which led to service in Iraq under the auspices of Joint Special Forces Command In 2009 she became a member of the US Armys first Human Terrain Team in Afghanistan a unit designed to seek cultural understanding and civilian cooperation with US forces Today AnnaMaria Cardinalli PhD runs a private security firm in Santa Fe NM while continuing to enjoy opportunities to pursue her first love of musicTable of ContentsIntroductionPrologue1 C130 Rolling Down the Strip2 Mamma Told Me Not to Come3 In the Clutches of the Mullah4 BowWow Kuchi Coup5 So Whats a Nice Girl Like You Doing in a Place Like This6 Villages Without Medicines Stomachs First7 Latrines and Shower Scenes8 Huh What Does It Mean9 Boots Dont Bend10 Too Damn Cruel11 If They Are Stronger It Is Theirs for Them to Take12 We Spell Misery MRE13 Playing IED Chicken14 To Walk a Mile for a Camel15 If You Go to a Medic You Had Better be Missing a Limb16 Really No Really17 Incoming18 The First USMC Female Engagement Team19 NATO Soldiers as Objects20 It Doesnt End There21 Afghanistan Againistan22 Farewell to Foreign Shores 23 In From the ColdEpilogueNotes