Western Forces and Afghanistan Army Share Historic British Base (VIDEO)

DISPATCHES FROM AFGHANISTAN
Part of the old British base at Kabul is used as a manufacturing facility, owned by an Afghan woman

140-year old base still in use today. Photo by: Tim King

(KABUL, Afghanistan) - Afghanistan is one of the most historic places in the world, and examples of the country's historical significance are seemingly everywhere. One place Western forces are now spending time an old British military base shared with the Afghan National Army, and as Tim King reports, they are harboring both old world equipment and work ethics.

Historical sights are not uncommon in Kabul, Afghanistan, places like this 140-year old British military base in Kabul.

Soldiers serving here are working among some of the oldest and most historical artifacts and functioning equipment in recent history. One of the most interesting relics on site is an early British steam powered tank. It may be among the earliest tank designs in existence.

Mangal Momand, an Afghan Interpreter said he believed the tank to be "120 years old, or 140 years old."

Capt. James Wood, USAF, said, "It's basically a one of a kind, and they don't know if it was brought here by mule or if it was brought here in pieces, but we're still trying to figure out what this history on that tank is, there is a lot of history around here."

In fact, it is so old that its manufacturer in England has no record of it. The Afghans are known for their ability to make use of equipment that people in the U.S. would have long done away with, it is the nature of this place of limited wealth and resources.

Interestingly, part of the old British base at Kabul is used as a manufacturing facility, turning out products that range from military awards to Afghan license plates. Even more interesting, the manufacturing arm of the base is owned by an Afghan woman.

The Oregon Guard soldiers serving here say the Afghan people take a great deal of pride in their work, and they should, because few people in the world have to make do with so little.

Watch the Streaming Video News Report below, direct from Kabul, Afghanistan by Tim King: Video

In Afghanistan, Tim King, reporting for Salem-news.com

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Tim King is embedded in Kabul, Afghanistan with the 41st Combat Brigade of the Oregon National Guard. See his stories several times a week here, on Salem-News.com, and on Portland’s KPTV Fox12.

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why british government dont let afghanistan stand by them own selves ?

Al: Much more mundanely malign -- solely seeking solid tea-tax, top return for least cost... similar to corporate regimes worldwide today... with possibly another coming Revolution, too !

Thanks Henry, I wonder what they told the British public to gain support? Maybe they said they were being attacked by Al-Qaeda or buildings in London were blown up by the Taliban.

Al: Would have been late 1860s. when British were fighting for life of Empire-trade around the world...one reason we had Civil War, due to impacts of their trade policies.

What in the hell were the British doing in Afghanistan 140 years ago? Have they returned to exploit it in the same way they did India?

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