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

Tim King is a former U.S. Marine with twenty years of experience on the west coast as a television news producer, photojournalist, reporter and assignment editor. In addition to his role as a war correspondent, this Los Angeles native serves as Salem-News.com's Executive News Editor. Tim spent the winter of 2006/07 covering the war in Afghanistan, and he was in Iraq over the summer of 2008, reporting from the war while embedded with both the U.S. Army and the Marines.

Tim holds awards for reporting, photography, writing and editing, including the Silver Spoke Award by the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (2011), Excellence in Journalism Award by the Oregon Confederation of Motorcycle Clubs (2010), Oregon AP Award for Spot News Photographer of the Year (2004), First-place Electronic Media Award in Spot News, Las Vegas, (1998), Oregon AP Cooperation Award (1991); and several others including the 2005 Red Cross Good Neighborhood Award for reporting. Tim has several years of experience in network affiliate news TV stations, having worked as a reporter and photographer at NBC, ABC and FOX stations in Arizona, Nevada and Oregon. Tim was a member of the National Press Photographer's Association for several years and is a current member of the Orange County Press Club.

Serving the community in very real terms, Salem-News.com is the nation's only truly independent high traffic news Website. As News Editor, Tim among other things, is responsible for publishing the original content of 82 Salem-News.com writers. He reminds viewers that emails are easily missed and urges those trying to reach him, to please send a second email if the first goes unanswered. You can write to Tim at this address: newsroom@salem-news.com

End Israel's Unwarranted Murder of Kids