In Afghanistan, the War on birds Is Actually Going Pretty Well

[The Straight Story]

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan—George Graves has met the enemy, and he is a hamster.

Plagued by guilt because he hadn't served in Vietnam, Mr. Graves raised his hand when his bosses at the U.S. Department of Agriculture sought a volunteer to deploy to Afghanistan.


Now he finds himself waging war on birds that could shut down a jet engine in flight, and on the varmints that attract them.

It's safe to say that Mr. Graves has killed more enemy in two months in country than most soldiers ever will, from Indian crested porcupines and golden jackals to gray dwarf hamsters and Libyan jirds, a sort of giant gerbil. He ships the remains to the Smithsonian Institution, whose research collection is short of genetic material from Afghan mammals.

"Not only is it contributing to airfield safety," Mr. Graves says, "but it's also contributing to science world-wide. It's kind of a win-win situation. Except for the animals, of course."


Mohammed Arif, Mr. Graves's assistant, practices his slingshot technique. He can kill birds at 20 yards with the slingshot.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704832704576114874187305638.html?mod=WSJ_LifeStyle_Lifestyle_5

[ixion]

1. Yeah, how dare the wildlife get in the way of us gettin' our 'war' on.

:sarcasm: