Afghan heritage the focus of trip

FORT DRUM — For a foreign invader, bringing about political stability begins with understanding the heritage and cultural aspects of a nation.

Laurie W. Rush, cultural resources manager at Fort Drum, recently returned from Afghanistan, where she attended a three-day conference that covered "every environmental issue you could possible think of" affecting Afghanistan.

The issues discussed during the conference ranged from learning how to secure archaeological sites and historic buildings to establishing recycling programs.

The conference was organized by the International Security Assistance Force and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Ms. Rush said she gave a presentation on why it is important for military personnel who are deployed to be aware of why Afghan heritage is important.

"My job is to make sure that the Americans have all the information they need to be sure they are able to work effectively with the Afghan ministries," she said. "The shared goal is as much preservation as possible."

She said it was a privilege to meet so many people who shared similar ideas.

"It's extremely humbling to meet people with that amount of courage," she said, "and who believe in their country so strongly they are willing to risk their lives."

Ms. Rush said efforts to save historical artifacts have been in place for years. Soldiers who are deployed can help continue efforts by doing simple things, such as purchasing handmade textiles as souvenirs rather than snow leopard fur or other non "antiquities" from bazaars and markets.

"Illegal trade helps fund smugglers and terrorism," she said.

One of the teaching points Ms. Rush said she brought back to the United States was information to share with soldiers about good things to buy in Afghanistan.

Textiles and other hand-made items help keep local craftsmen in business and help support the nation-building going on in Afghanistan.

One specific example is an Afghan war rug, which falls into the category of folk art. The war rug has emerged as a direct result of the conflict in Afghanistan.

"This allows the Afghans to tell the story of how the conflict has affected them," she said.

The rugs are all unique and depict sites such as airfields, helicopters, hand grenades and armored personnel carriers.

"They're showing you how this war has affected them," she said.

"It's what they have observed, factors that are related to their war experience."