Free Combat Alley (2007) by Jack - Seals 06 Terral Page B

before the harvest and all the attending complications, Akloschenko said. But perhaps if you visited Logovishchyeh, you could sort of sound Surov out. You know what I mean; be subtle and try to discover how deep his loyalties are to Yarkov.
    Marvesky smiled. I would think that since Surov was an officer he has resented having to serve a former subordinate. It makes sense that he would prefer to be the boss of that gang. But there is another problem you're not taking under consideration, Chief.
    What's that?
    Perhaps the other convicts would not accept Surov as their leader, Marvesky said. If you had Yarkov removed and put Surov in his place, those guys might decide to kill him.
    Akloschenko laughed. Back in the old Soviet bureaucracy we would classify that as an adjustment of personnel status.

    Chapter 7
    SEALs BIVOUAC
    20 OCTOBER
    1000 HOURS
    DIRK Wallenger used the notes he had made during the taping at the Janoon village to write out his latest presentation for broadcast. Since he would be unable to make a voice-over on the scenes he would have to rely on the editing people back in the Washington studio to match up his spiel with the correct sound bites. This unconventional method would have been irritating enough to the micromanaging journalist, but he also had to rely on unscheduled resupply flights to get his tapes back to Shelor Field for mailing to the States. That was one problem he hadn't envisioned when he first decided to get imbedded with a combat unit.
    Now, fifty meters away from camp, Wallenger waited as Eddie lifted his camera into position. Okay, Dirk.
    Right. Five ... Four... three... Two... One... Greetings from somewhere in Afghanistan, Wallenger began. The SEAL detachment known as Brannigan's Brigands is now on the ground and running, or perhaps I should say 'galloping' straight into their mission that has been dubbed Operation Combat Alley. Yesterday we went to a Pashtun village to become acquainted with the local natives, and had the very real pleasure of making friends with a group of exotic people who have inhabited this part of the world for eons. The Pashtuns are fascinating, and just happen to be the largest tribal society in the world today. Their actual origins are obscure and they refer to legends to mark the beginning of their existence, mingling historical fact with myth. They are a passionate people who do not hesitate to turn to violence to deal with disagreements with not only outsiders but their own kind within their many clans. Here, in this part of Afghanistan, there are seven tribes who share a history of peace and war in which temporary alliances and hostilities have whirled and mingled throughout their existence. He stopped speaking to refer to his notes.
    Eddie relaxed, taking the camera from his shoulder. Man, oh man! I can't wait to see these tapes.
    They'll have been broadcast many weeks before we get to see the final results of our efforts, Wallenger said. Okay. Let's roll again. He waited for the cameraman to get ready, then immediately took up where he left off. The Pashtuns live by a series of codes that reflect a male-dominated society. This set of laws demands that they be hospitable to strangers as well as strictly observant to matters of honor. This latter edict is what seems to lead to most of the violence in their lives, and informed sources here have told me that, for the most part, this involves matters between the sexes. Any disrespect to a woman, which can include even a casual glance, demands that the males of the family retaliate immediately and fiercely to maintain their honor. Note that I said their honor, not her honor. If a woman of their family engages in sinful conduct, she will be murdered by male relatives in an act termed an 'honor killing.'Accordingly, a woman who is raped must produce witnesses to testify that she resisted the assault with all her strength, or she too will be slain or ordered executed by a Muslim judge. Strangely enough, killings