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Penguins of Afghanistan

Picture of Michael Yon
Michael Yon
Some villagers came to the Shah Wali Kot District Center in Kandahar Province for a 'MEDCAP,' and voluntarily entered the HIIDE system. Karzai’s image seems to be everywhere but his influence is paper-thin in Afghanistan. The President of Afghanistan has more influence in Washington than in Afghanistan. Alone, Karzai is powerless, and without the Coalition he so often denigrates, he’s as useless as a kite without a string. His government doesn’t even know who it 'governs,' though at least the Coalition is taking some measure of biometric inventory.

According to Staff Sergeant Jason Hughes, “ZZ Top beards” can inhibit the software from classifying faces, but usually, he says, the image is successful.  If not, soldiers use a separate digital camera to make a photo and add to the record.

Fuzzy faces fool digits.

Never had an ID card in his life.

A life off 'the grid.' When our troops kill men, they collect biometrics from the bodies when possible.
Michael Yon

Michael Yon is America's most experienced combat correspondent. He has traveled or worked in 82 countries, including various wars and conflicts.

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Picture of Michael Yon

Michael Yon

Michael Yon is America's most experienced combat correspondent. He has traveled or worked in 82 countries, including various wars and conflicts.

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