Pashtunwali

Chris notes:

Good points in your column on embedded journos who want to "play soldier." When Woodruff and Vogt were wounded, I saw a piece on ABC's World News Tonight with a nifty little computer graphic of the convoy and the attack. Did you know the reporters were in the point vehicle, standing up in the open hatches? That seems downright foolhardy, since point is commonly regarded as a more dangerous place to be. I wonder if this is SOP? Also, your mention of peshtunwali reminded me of a Northwest Frontier anecdote. The future Lord Roberts and a single companion were on a mission near the Khyber Pass, surrounded by people who were ostensibly their enemies. Yet they were completely safe, for they had extracted a promise from a local mullah to provide protection. Some tense moments occurred, but their personal bodyguards, who would kill them at any other time without a second thought, were prepared to give their lives in their defense since they had given their word. Not surprising the British were highly impressed by Pathans, Afridis, etc, and recruited from such "warrior races" as often as they fought them.
One last thing: if they're gonna push it so much, couldn't they have found a more attractive word than "embedded?" It always sounds to me like a bad case of chiggers or toe fungus. Perhaps it's a not so subtle joke by the boys in the Pentagon, letting their true feelings for reporters show.

I just like the anecdote. It's supported by personal experience as well as testimony of countless Afghan travelers.