From Kabul...Thought I Was Going Hot This Morning

I'm a DoD civilian working in Kabul as a mentor to an Afghan Ministry as well as the ANA and MoI. For those of you who know Kabul, myself and my Canadian Warrant Officer were standing in front of ISAF HQ with our 2 linguists nearby, waiting for 2 more associates arrive.

We're scanning and I see this big, well dressed guy Afghan just stop in the middle of the street, maybe 15-20M in front of me. He's just standing there looking around for probably 4-6 seconds, then shouts over in the general direction of us and the inattentive guards and asks "Where is the US Embassy?" I don't think anybody said anything yet, and this guy flies open his overcoat, I mean fast. I brought my M4 from low ready and was tracking up his body. I'm watching his hands the whole time and it takes me a few 10ths of a second to realize the large white square that just appeared is him holding a document that he produced from under his coat, square in front of his chest. To say this was a furtive movement couldn't be understimated. I ended up keeping my hold at about his knees as someone points the direction to the Embassy and he turned and moved off.

This was the first time I ever thought that I was going to light somebody up. I'm just glad I had the proper reaction as the guards were not paying attention and my Warrant was scanning right when it happened. My 1 linguist saw it, and afterward was just smiling and shaking his head. He said, "you were about to get that guy, weren't you?" I just shook my head and smiled.

Nothing for you combat vets, but thought I'd share this from a civilian experience.

DP

Stay safe......................

Be safe out there, watch your 6.

Your SA is on high, exactly where it needs to be. You did fine, no one was hurt especially you.

You did good. Stay safe.

Better to act accordingly and stay safe,who knows what could have been under the clothes

Stay safe....:cool:

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Be safe and keep your head on a swivel.

Not bad...you have permission to go change your underwear

That'll be one to remember.

'Hope that's as edgy as it gets for you.

Get a CONUS position!

Glad for both of you that you didn't have to take it any further.........

As others have said--stay safe (as you can)!!

So...you were outside the ECP between ISAF and the Embassy?

Frankly, the guy was an idiot to ask where the US Embassy was, as you can't miss it if you're standing in front of ISAF

Be safe out there!

Then again he could have done what he did to see what your reaction time was...