Asian Trips - Afghanistan: The Road to Kabul

After September 11, famed photographer Ron Haviv, who has covered conflicts in Africa, Russia, the Middle East and the Balkans, embarked on a trip to Afghanistan with writer Ilana Ozernoy (U.S. News & World Report, the San Francisco Chronicle and The Boston Globe).

The photographs capture the period from October 2001, through the liberation of the city of Kabul, to the fall of the Taliban regime at the end of December 2001.

I believe that this book does not just introduce one to the roots, core and consequences of the war in Afghanistan. It laces one into the complex fiber of life that almost does not want to part from medieval. Mr. Haviv has captured an ethnos in a conflict that is intertwined with the essence and color of hard land called Afghanistan. Mrs. Ozernoy added descriptive passages that make one wish for an ability to rebel against passivity of comfortable nations.

I was stunned to actually feel uncomfortable when I was looking at the pictures of troops' movements. I almost felt dust penetrating my retina. Then my eyes were soothed by pleasing colors of Afghan fabrics that were part of a picture depicting life of women there.

There are many brilliant allegories in this book. When understood, they will help us all live peacefully.