"REV," Part III

As U.S. troops continue to kill Iraqis to make that country safe for democracy, and as the Afghan War endures its sixth year, one of my older stories seems especially timely.

"REV" is set in Afghanistan in the not-too-distant future. When I started it, late in 1990, the year in which the story is set (2042) was a lot farther away. Its writing was prompted by the saber-rattling preceeding the First Gulf War, which looks so tame and unsophisticated compared to what we saw in the lead-up to the Iraq invasion in March 2003.

"REV" imagines the Third New Crusades, with U.S. Forces charging toward Kandahar, fighting insurgent mujas along the way. I had no real sense at the time about how the First New Crusades were launched -- and why. But I do now.

This is a five-part series, with a new segment available every few weeks. So, look for the fourth part of "REV" on or about Jan. 1, 2007. Go here and look for Part III of "REV" on the sidebar under "short fiction."