Troops Abroad

I stumbled across this surfing the Internet. I do not know too much about the photographer, but from what I gather he (or she) is a soldier in the Australian Army doing a tour in Afghanistan. These photo's follow the lives of solder's all over the world. These ones are from Afghanistan though (I apologize for the small size) Hopefully this guy (or Gal) will get a book deal or something because these images are phenomenal. Check out there account on Picasa. User name: kaymemes

"Once in a while there is a man who won't do what is demanded of him, and do you know what happens? The whole machine devotes itself coldly to the destruction of his difference. They'll beat your spirit and your nerves, your body and your mind, with iron rods until the dangerous difference goes out of you. And if you can't finally give in, they'll vomit you up and leave you stinking outside- neither part of themselves nor yet free. It's better to fall in with them. They only do it to protect themselves. A thing so triumphantly illogical, so beautifully senseless as an army can't allow a question to weaken it. Within itself, if you do not hold it up to other things for comparison and derision, you'll find slowly, surely, a reason and a logic and a dreadful kind of beauty. A man who can accept it is not a worse man always, and sometimes a better man. Pay good heed to me for I have thought long about it. Some men there are who go down in the dismal wrack of soldiering, surrender themselves, and become faceless. But these had not much face to start with. And maybe you're like that. But there are others who go down, submerge in the common slough, and then rise more themselves than they were, because- because they have lost a littleness of vanity and have gained all the gold of the company and regiment. If you go down so low, you will be able to rise higher than you can ever conceive, and you will know a holy joy, a companionship almost like the heavenly company of angels. Then you will know the quality of men even if they are inarticulate. But until you have gone way down you can never know this."

-Coincidentally a quote from John Steinbeck's East of Eden (previous post)

This is why I respect soldier's and what they do. Not to mention the fact that they do put their life on the line for you, whether people accept that or not. I know the debate. Spare me. I can see both sides of the argument. If anyone knows any information about this unit, and/or photographer(s) please inform me. I would love to give credit to a great thing where credit is due.