The Safety of Kabul -- National Review

KABUL — If you were to visit Kabul, the first striking thing you’d notice is that the city is much smaller than you might expect — and that the stark, brown mountains surrounding it are much larger, with snow-covered peaks visible just behind them. The people we pass as the patrol walks down both sides of the road are neither particularly friendly nor unfriendly. They seem barely to notice the foreign soldiers, though children (some of them fair skinned with blond hair) rush up to offer chewing gum for “only one dollar.” Brushed off, they cheerfully skip away.