Four out of five Guantanamo detainees whom former President Barack Obama released in exchange for former U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl in 2014 now hold senior positions in the interim government created by the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Adding further to the Idaho role in the Afghanistan War, Boise attorney David Nevin has represented at least one of the prisoners at Guantanamo.

We welcome any comments and factual story content.

Here are some trending topics of discussion:

—Brian Harsin sits out Auburn Football practice and stadium openers.

–Was it time to leave Afghanistan after 20 years? More defense contractor mercenaries died than real soldiers. DEATH TOLL American service members killed in Afghanistan through April: 2,448. U.S. contractors: 3,846. Do the mercenaries get V.A. benefits and PTSD payments?

–Is the police oversight system viable in Boise with video being withheld on critical incidents and officers under investigation put back on the road before being cleared?

–Will local government budgets be game changers this year?

–COVID is running rampant and many are fighting mask and immunization.

Great time spent with 14-year-old grandson and a chance to learn the addictive qualities of those “smart” phones. Amazing how fast and readily available information can be obtained. Sad to see how much of the info is dispersed.

Grandson Bryce at Mesa Falls

–When you have lived ONLY in metro Hillsborough County, Florida where the population is the same as the entire state of Idaho it is understandable how awkward it is to pee in the aspen grove along Highway 20.

–The significance of Arco being the first town in the world to have nuclear power is lost after 65 years.

–The gigantic trout at Big Spring near Island Park are gone! Don’t know if the nearby massive construction projects have had any impact, but the world famous fishery has attracted a lot of people and money to Fremont County.

–Yellowstone is overrun with Asian tourists. At one hotel breakfast buffet we observed a shoving match when an Asian guest hijacked an entire tray of scrambled eggs for his table. Those not in tour groups and renting autos were obvious due to their lack of driving skills.

–Questions as simple as, “what do you want to study in school,” were answered after consulting the Smart Phone for salary surveys. (neurologists earn $600,000 a year and electrical engineering profs bring in $90,000).

–Freeway drivers are totally out of control, mean, aggressive, and a danger to everyone. We were just ahead of fatality crashes on both I-15 and I-84. At the time we commented that death was inevitable with such behavior.

–Idaho is still a vast “Gem” with scenic vistas and good people. Upper Mesa Falls on Henrys Fork of the Snake is spectacular, Craters of the Moon is unique, but barren. The Swan Falls Canyon (Birds of Prey) is an under appreciated Ada County natural attraction

Bryce at Golden Spike Monument.

ATK Rockets

“DRAFTED!” is GUARDIAN editor Dave Frazier’s behind-the-scenes account of the mostly involuntary Army of the 1960’s and his personal quest to make the best of an otherwise unpleasant situation and have fun doing it during the Vietnam War.

As a young freelance reporter-photographer, Frazier was drafted into the U.S. Army and sent to Vietnam. A note in his personnel file from a friendly commander led to an assignment as a Public Affairs NCO writing about and photographing the activities of the transportation command during the height of the Vietnam War in 1967-68.

Frazier’s memoir provides a unique look at Vietnam as both a war and a country. Dozens of contemporary photos along with “historic” war time images by the author compliment the vignettes and offer a peek at life in Vietnam today.

Think: equal parts M.A.S. H., GOOD MORNING VIETNAM, and soul-baring truths from a vet who returned unscathed, but not unchanged.

NOTE:
You can contact me directly using the CONTACT link above on this page or get an digital version at AMAZON . If you contact me, the $15 price includes autograph and coffee. At Amazon you can get it for $3, but no signature or coffee.

Stars & Stripes, the military newspaper in Japan, recently reported a Japanese court has awarded residents near Kadena AF Base on Okinawa $265 million in compensation for health issued caused by the noise of U.S. fighter jets.

As part of our community-based news sharing effort, the GUARDIAN offers up the following links supplied by the group opposed to basing the F-35 in Boise. They feel the noisy fighter should be based at Mountain Home AFB where there are no nearby residences.

FAA discusses home buyouts, F-35 noise maps at Burlington Airport
http://www.mynbc5.com/article/faa-officials-speak-with-neighbors-about-home-buyouts-f-35-noise-maps-at-burlignton-airport/8946569

Home buyout, jet noise creates turmoil in Vermont community
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/national-politics/article132881969.html

Gov. Otter signs F-35 funding bill
http://www.nwcn.com/news/local/capitol-watch/gov-otter-signs-f35-funding-bill/416252508

Airport’s Actions Prompt Push to Reexamine Its Governance
http://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/airports-actions-prompt-push-to-reexamine-its-governance/Content?oid=4031653

Home buyout, jet noise creates turmoil in Vermont community
http://www.caledonianrecord.com/news/regional/home-buyout-jet-noise-creates-turmoil-in-vermont-community/image_dcdf71bd-e890-537f-a093-5e933c48633e.html

Okinawans Awarded $265 Million Over Aircraft Noise At Kadena
http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/release/3/181460/okinawans-win-$265m-damages-for-aircraft-noise-at-kadena.html

FAA made F-35 maps for some cities, just not S. Burlington
http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/2017/02/06/faa-made-f-35-maps-some-cities-just-not-s-burlington/96993590/

FAA OFFERS FEW SOLUTIONS FOR F-35 NOISE MITIGATION IN SOUTH BURLINGTON

FAA offers few solutions for F-35 noise mitigation in South Burlington

F-35 Fighter Jets Are Still Coming To Vermont, Despite Review Of The Program
http://digital.vpr.net/post/f-35-fighter-jets-are-still-coming-vermont-despite-review-program#stream/0

South Burlington Councilors Want Airport Buyouts to Stop
http://www.sevendaysvt.com/OffMessage/archives/2017/01/23/south-burlington-councilors-want-airport-buyouts-to-stop

Bluntly put, some of the best reporters have gone over to the dark side and work for the government–the pay is significantly better than in the private sector. As a result we are inundated with press releases that are published with little or no editing or fact checking. The GUARDIAN is guilty, but we try to identify government-produced press releases for what they are.

While the internet can offer up questionable “facts” or as some have come to call them “alternative facts,” the net can also serve as a great communication device. As an ongoing feature we would like to encourage readers to send links to stories of interest to Boise and Idaho readers from recognized news sources, not special interest sites.

Here are a couple of examples that crossed our computer terminal today.

KADENA JAPAN— Local residents near the U.S. Air Force Base on Okinawa have been awarded $265 million in compensation for health-related issues caused by the noise from fighter jets. It is the third time residents have won court cases. Folks opposed to the F-35 being based in Boise have formed a group with a contact at LivableBoise@gmail.com to unite fellow opponents of the noise. The original story came from the well known STARS AND STRIPES. Since proponents of the F-35 cite huge economic benefits of basing the noisy jet at Gowen Field, perhaps that revenue can go to compensate residents like they pay in Japan.

3/1/17 UPDATE ON JET NOISE–We got this from the STARS & STRIPES reporter. “There have been many noise lawsuits in Japan over the past few decades. Lot of money being paid out.

The Japanese government pays all fines. They have always paid. The US is here at their request and pleasure, defending their nation, since the island’s reversion from American control in 1972, so we do not reimburse them. They pay. That is “the cost of doing business,” I think is the way it is viewed here. These fighters are American.

ORLANDO FLORIDA–Just like Disney World, it appears the local version of a train is part of Fantasy Land. A report in the ORLANDO SENTINEL shows the “SUNRAIL” train not only costs more than the fare rate, the fare doesn’t even cover the cost of the ticket. That’s right the ticket –not the ride– cost more to produce than the entire fare. The local mayor is “disappointed.” Perhaps instead of more surveys and studies with predetermined results, Team Dave in Boise should check out the SunRail debacle in Florida where there are many more potential riders than in Idaho.

Fidel Castro August 1977

Upon arrival in Havana at Castro’s office, Sen. Church made a little speech saying the trip was a historic event as it marked the first time a U.S. Government aircraft had landed in Cuba in 17 years. Castro raised a finger and interjected, “legally that is.” The remark drew chuckles from all present.

Castro was a charismatic figure who dominated the room wherever he stood. Dressed in a combat fatigue uniform, complete with sidearm pistol, I found it telling that he wore handmade designer boots with square toes and zippers.

During the three day visit, Castro became more and more comfortable with the senator and the media. At one point he confessed that he had a bet with Nikita Khrushchev during a fishing trip off the Cuban coast. The Russians were to provide a foreign aid grant if Castro caught the most or biggest fish. Unknown to Krushchev, Castro had a security agent in scuba gear attaching fish to his line and giving it a jerk. He told the story to the senator while visiting Hemingway’s house where “Old Man and The Sea” was

Castro and Church at Hemingway’s house in Cuba

He told of shooting mortars at the Bay of Pigs. One round was short, the second sailed past the target vessel. Just as Castro’s men fired the bulls eye round he realized the vessel was abandoned. “I could have had a nice boat,” he said as he smacked his forehead with his hand and grinned.”

When we visited a cattle ranch, Castro confided in Church that the USA embargo of goods to Cuba was not all that good. He bragged that his prize herd of black angus cattle came from North Dakota via Canada in the form of semen.

Highlight of the trip and a memorable moment for me came when we ran out of time one day when I had planned to get a shot of Church and Castro at the Bay of Pigs. Castro came over to me, put his hand on my shoulder, apologized for leaving and said, “I will make it up to you tomorrow.”

The private moment

On the day of departure I found a bag of bling on my hotel door knob. Inside were two bottles of Cuban rum, a box of Cohiba cigars and Fidel Castro’s business card. The rum has long since been consumed, I impressed my friends with “Castro’s cigars,” and have one dried up stogie left for show and tell.

Castro bling from 1977

As I write this, Trump has 259 electoral votes. One of the guys said in heavily accented English, “Game over. Hillary is behind by three touch downs late in the fourth quarter. She needs a hail Mary to win.”

They are most concerned with the tumbling stock market. Australia is dropping fast and Dow futures are down 500 points and Asia market is down 2 per cent.

“There goes our retirement, thanks to Trump,” said one Vietnamese woman.

LATER IN SAIGON–
First, it was remarkable how fast the news traveled. Most everyone I met at a tourist restaurant/bar were fully aware and none was without a comment.

–A German from Berlin hadn’t heard the news. When I told him Trump had won, he came back with, “Oh SH..!”
–Brazilian woman from Sao Paulo smugly remarked, “I have my 10 year visa, so no worries.”
–Norwegian engineer, “It will be an interesting four years. I doubt if he builds a wall. Politicians change once they get elected.
–Two Brits were rejoicing over mugs of beer. “No one paid attention to the people. It’s just like Brixit. The people have spoken!”
–A young attractive woman well dressed woman (looked like recent college grad) from South Africa could only say, “I think it is very bad.”
–The Vietnamese hotel desk clerk gushed, “I am following on face book. It is exciting!”

Gotta say this has been a memorable experience to meet folks from around the globe who are uniformly surprised.

Meeting folks from Australia, Holland, Germany and Canada who ALL think our election and candidates are a big joke.No one has mentioned Russia’s Yeltsin, but that is how they seem to feel.

Tourism dominates all of Vietnam. Just in 2 years I am seeing HUUUGE development and some pretty cool infrastructure developments. Scooters outnumber cars by about 20 to one, hence noise and crowding abound. Team Dave would be impressed, despite no trolley.

I will meet with ministry of foreign affairs cultural officer next week for Vietnam TV segment if all goes well for story on my book, DRAFTED!, and reuniting with the little kid from war years who is now 54.

Jeweler RICK HARVEY worked for a REAL saint.

Harvey is a devout Episcopalian–he is a clergyman at St. Michaels–and in 1994 he jumped at the chance to spend a couple of weeks in Calcutta India (Calcutta has become Kolkata), volunteering at Mother Teresa’s Catholic mission caring for the needy.

He wrote in his personal journal after a 35 minute meeting with Mother Teresa which ended with a prayer. “She walked away with determined steps that carry her toward sainthood.” He got that one right.

Harvey shared his 30 page journal with the GUARDIAN at our request. It is laced with self-contemplation and full of Christian faith. It is also a gritty account of misery, adventure, compassion, and insight.

After a final Eucharist presided over by Mother Teresa, Harvey summed up his visit saying, “She came by and as I kissed her hand, I was indeed blessed.”

BY DAVE FRAZIER, editor

It was 22 years ago that I got a lesson in humility thanks to the woman known today as Blessed Teresa of Calcutta.

It was about 11 p.m. when I bumped into Rick Harvey at the super market and he cheerily asked, “Been traveling anywhere interesting lately?”

At that time I was globetrotting with my camera making photos for textbooks and magazines. “Last month I was in the Philippines,” I noted rather proudly.

As an after thought and to be polite I asked, “What have you been up to?”

“I have been over in Calcutta working as a volunteer with Mother Teresa. I just got back and I need fresh milk and bread,” was his matter-of-fact reply.

I felt about two feet tall and realized how nice it is to have friends like Harvey who understand the meaning of life.