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Delivered-To: john.podesta@gmail.com Received: by 10.140.48.48 with SMTP id n45csp18245qga; Fri, 28 Mar 2014 03:34:36 -0700 (PDT) Return-Path: <gpodesta@gmail.com> Received-SPF: pass (google.com: domain of gpodesta@gmail.com designates 10.180.187.237 as permitted sender) client-ip=10.180.187.237 Authentication-Results: mr.google.com; spf=pass (google.com: domain of gpodesta@gmail.com designates 10.180.187.237 as permitted sender) smtp.mail=gpodesta@gmail.com; dkim=pass header.i=@gmail.com X-Received: from mr.google.com ([10.180.187.237]) by 10.180.187.237 with SMTP id fv13mr11861420wic.26.1396002876176 (num_hops = 1); Fri, 28 Mar 2014 03:34:36 -0700 (PDT) DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=gmail.com; s=20120113; h=mime-version:date:message-id:subject:from:to:content-type; bh=4GXYP5tWqPn/cRZ8xhqiqTk70QnGxl+c3gU+BCmN7Wg=; b=eW+Dz4tVFUXAQNIogwtitdw3nMj28UEpeI5QKigwPguc852Ve8l2Q7ce4Gs0cbHYWu m0vaj7w1TwPEZ0C32fpHchdl8pTmD8UrqxllOTWF+UOhUz/qKNFHhj/M3+LVn2kJTGfT +ey20Aws6mGfY2DK0v3gn+xIa4NYvxbGu9Eky0zgxvFlAzUInp3UiFCJeSEQUZqden5U apUuqc+gQNTShbK2ZKzSxANHz0WwfBJCaYIXRxPMhHnba6sk2J4jNcxNdhnZFC33R9H+ 9c1YIXeVAmcLPTq5kiE5s7TKSgyKp698pBNdwRYngqn59ktkQNVy4fuhtFs6V1AXHGP1 HJmQ== MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Received: by 10.180.187.237 with SMTP id fv13mr11455691wic.26.1396002875877; Fri, 28 Mar 2014 03:34:35 -0700 (PDT) Received: by 10.217.116.74 with HTTP; Fri, 28 Mar 2014 03:34:35 -0700 (PDT) Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2014 15:04:35 +0430 Message-ID: <CAP-MWF55pqaFcnLsfyxGDUsJRvO7eHtKsZjvz+vybiRNhJTeHA@mail.gmail.com> Subject: Afghan Commerce From: Gabe Podesta <gpodesta@gmail.com> To: John Podesta <john.podesta@gmail.com>, Mary Podesta <podesta.mary@gmail.com>, Mae Podesta <mpodesta@gmail.com>, Megan Rouse <meganrouse@gmail.com>, Gordon Rouse <rouse.gordon@gmail.com>, Gabriel Rouse <gabriel.rouse@gmail.com>, "ms.maribel.rouse@gmail.com" <ms.maribel.rouse@gmail.com>, Judge Thomas Spieczny <tspieczny@epcounty.com>, Kitty Spalding <spalding@elp.rr.com>, Molly Spieczny <molly.spieczny@gmail.com>, Joseph Spieczny <spieczny@gmail.com>, Nspieczny <nspieczny@aol.com>, Manya Scheps <manyascheps@gmail.com>, Tosh Scheps <tscheps@elon.edu>, Tony Podesta <podesta@podesta.com>, Catherine Chieco <crchieco@gmail.com>, Todge Spieczny <todges2000@yahoo.com>, cynthia spieczny <fenwickstar@yahoo.com> Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary=001a11c25a9c85b19404f5a83f59 --001a11c25a9c85b19404f5a83f59 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 When I learned that I was deploying to support a contracting command, I figured I would learn about the Afghan economy. What I hadn't figured was that those lessons would have nothing to do with my official duties. When I stepped off the helo pad at Camp Phoenix and into my office for the first time I was immediately introduced to GS-15 DoD employee. She asked me how many "cartouches"I wished to purchase. A cartouche, I learned, is a cheap pendant necklace engraved on one side with an English name and on the other with the same name in Dari (or so they claim; it may well say Go Home American Swine for all any of us know). I initially demurred but eventually relented and agreed to purchase three. Even that compromise was met with an incredulous look and a puzzled "just three?" The interaction seemed odd but I figured that I just happened to arrive as a bulk order was being placed and that purchases like this were atypical. I was wrong. My coworkers spend multiple duty hours each and every day shopping at the bazaars. They buy jewelry. They buy rugs. They buy electronics. They buy fur coats. Fur coats! Not a day goes by without someone coming into my office to show off a new purchase. My Afghanistan workplace is Project Runway and I'm Tim Gunn--I disapprove of everything around me and hope everyone will be sent home. Yesterday a handful of them reviewed their bank statements to figure out how much they've spent since being here. Consensus was between five and ten thousand dollars. Throughout my life I've been called cheap. Throughout my life I've been called crotchety. So maybe this is just a continuation of the same but I thoroughly disapprove. Rather than speak up, however, I sit here meekly and feign agreement with the ridiculous notion that a mink fur will look resplendent at the Dyess Officers' Club in Abilene, TX when she redeploys this summer. Hope you are well. Love and miss you all. And no, I will not put in purchase orders for you. Gabe --001a11c25a9c85b19404f5a83f59 Content-Type: text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <div dir=3D"ltr"><p style=3D"margin:0in 0in 10pt" class=3D"MsoNormal"><font= face=3D"Calibri"><font size=3D"3"><font color=3D"#000000">When I learned t= hat I was deploying to support a contracting command, I figured I would lea= rn about the Afghan economy.<span> </span>What I hadn’t figured was = that those lessons would have nothing to do with my official duties.</font>= </font></font></p> <font color=3D"#000000" size=3D"3" face=3D"Times New Roman"></font><p style= =3D"margin:0in 0in 10pt" class=3D"MsoNormal"><font face=3D"Calibri"><font s= ize=3D"3"><font color=3D"#000000">When I stepped off the helo pad at Camp P= hoenix and into my office for the first time I was immediately introduced t= o GS-15 DoD employee.<span> </span>She asked me how many “cartouches= ”I wished to purchase.<span> </span>A cartouche, I learned, is a che= ap pendant necklace engraved on one side with an English name and on the ot= her with the same name in Dari (or so they claim; it may well say Go Home A= merican Swine for all any of us know).<span> </span>I initially demurred bu= t eventually relented and agreed to purchase three.<span> </span>Even that= compromise was met with an incredulous look and a puzzled “just thre= e?”<span> </span>The interaction seemed odd but I figured that I just= happened to arrive as a bulk order was being placed and that purchases lik= e this were atypical.<span> </span>I was wrong.</font></font></font></p> <font color=3D"#000000" size=3D"3" face=3D"Times New Roman"></font><p style= =3D"margin:0in 0in 10pt" class=3D"MsoNormal"><font face=3D"Calibri"><font s= ize=3D"3"><font color=3D"#000000">My coworkers spend multiple duty hours ea= ch and every day shopping at the bazaars.<span> </span>They buy jewelry.<s= pan> </span>They buy rugs.<span> </span>They buy electronics.<span> </sp= an>They buy fur coats.<span> </span>Fur coats!<span> </span>Not a day goes= by without someone coming into my office to show off a new purchase.<span>= </span>My Afghanistan workplace is Project Runway and I’m Tim Gunn&= mdash;I disapprove of everything around me and hope everyone will be sent h= ome.</font></font></font></p> <font color=3D"#000000" size=3D"3" face=3D"Times New Roman"></font><p style= =3D"margin:0in 0in 10pt" class=3D"MsoNormal"><font face=3D"Calibri"><font s= ize=3D"3"><font color=3D"#000000">Yesterday a handful of them reviewed thei= r bank statements to figure out how much they’ve spent since being he= re.<span> </span>Consensus was between five and ten thousand dollars.</fon= t></font></font></p> <font color=3D"#000000" size=3D"3" face=3D"Times New Roman"></font><p style= =3D"margin:0in 0in 10pt" class=3D"MsoNormal"><font face=3D"Calibri"><font s= ize=3D"3"><font color=3D"#000000">Throughout my life I’ve been called= cheap.<span> </span>Throughout my life I’ve been called crotchety.<= span> </span>So maybe this is just a continuation of the same but I thorou= ghly disapprove.<span> </span>Rather than speak up, however, I sit here me= ekly and feign agreement with the ridiculous notion that a mink fur will lo= ok resplendent at the Dyess Officers’ Club in Abilene, TX when she re= deploys this summer.</font></font></font></p> <font color=3D"#000000" size=3D"3" face=3D"Times New Roman"></font><p style= =3D"margin:0in 0in 10pt" class=3D"MsoNormal"><font size=3D"3"><font color= =3D"#000000"><font face=3D"Calibri">Hope you are well.<span></span> L= ove and miss you all. And no, I will not put in purchase orders for y= ou. Gabe</font></font></font></p> </div> --001a11c25a9c85b19404f5a83f59--