General Cycling Discussion - Operator killed in Afghanistan was a bike racer ...

The Special Forces Operator killed in Afghanistan was an avid cyclist and bike mechanic in Morgantown, West Virginia. http://www.dominionpost.com/a/news/2002/05/21/ac/
I post this without political thought of any sort, just wanted to tip my helmet to someone that shared my love for the sport. Anybody race with him or frequent his shop?

Cheers Gene ... :beer:

A large percentage of Afghanis use bikes as thier main method of commute.

Some of them died too.

I made a point of mentioning that this was a non-political statement. I agree that human life is sacred without regard to nationality. If you are able, please share the story of an Afghani cyclist killed in the "war".

I think you are reading too much into what I said, please ignore it.

I should have just said nothing cause it wasn't very intelligent.

If I misunderstood I apologize. Here is a story:
Afghan Cyclists Pedal Out of the Closet

KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan cycling enthusiasts, forced off their bikes by the Taliban, are back in the saddle.
About 20 cyclists in full gear staged their first race for five years from the capital, Kabul, Sunday after the city fell to forces of the Northern Alliance.

Braving a potholed road that crosses the heavily mined former front line, they traveled 25 miles north to the town of Charikar at the base of the Panjsher valley.

The Taliban had outlawed public sports events in line with their strict interpretation of Islamic law that also obliged men to wear beards and women to leave their homes only in the company of a male relative and shrouded in a full-length burqa veil.

“During Taliban times we weren't allowed to do sports, it was very difficult. Now with freedom we can do what we want, so we are organizing this race,'' Mahmood Azani, of Afghanistan's Olympic Committee, told Reuters television.
He said the race had been staged in honor of the late Ahmed Shah Masood, the Northern Alliance's legendary commander.

Two assassins posing as journalists killed Masood in a bomb attack two days before the Sept. 11 hijacked airliner assaults on New York and Washington.

Copyright © 2001 Reuters.

And a link about the movie .... "The Cyclist"
http://www.iranianmovies.com/Merchant/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=IranMall&Product_Code=Cyclist

I saw this on the news 2 nights ago and was going to post it but could not find a video of him or a pic.
My news was showing his bike shop and all.

Jared

I take my hat off for him, and hope he is somewhere where he is at peace.

Originally posted by orguasch
I take my hat off for him, and hope he is somewhere where he is at peace.
This whole thread reminds me of how much all of us have in common.

Human life is precious and far too many people in this world either ignore that fact or just do not care. (Here is where I will get political) I spent 10 years as an Army officer. My two brothers graduated from West Point and have served this country for over 20 years each. We, among thousands of other Americans service people have spent months at a time away from our families serving people of the Muslim faith(Desert Storm,Bosnia,Somalia and now Afghanistan). The hatred for America by a large majority of these people is only stronger. Why? I do not have an answer. The Muslim faith has been hijaccked by extreme fundamentalists whose goal in life is to destroy the United States. It is time we recognize this fact and destroy the enemy totally before he destroys us. I could go on for alot longer but will not. I apologize for the tone and political nature of this message. This is cycling forum and I guess it should stay that way.

I understand your sentiment Duffy, one of my close friends through grade and high school is a Navy SEAL. However, I also have friends who are Muslim and, in particular, Afghan immigrants. It is dangerous and unfair to associate all Muslims with extremism, in the same manner that most christians would never dream of handling rattlesnakes or shooting abortion doctors.

Not all Muslims feel this way,I agree. However,I do not hear an outcry from American Muslims condemning the Palestinian homocide bombers in Israel. Nor from average citizens from Middle Eastern countries. The leadership of that faith has failed its followers by teaching them to hate just for the sake of hate. The saudis are a perfect example. They speak out against terror in public but allow and encourage anti American teachings in their schools. So it goes with all the other countries in the region. I am in favor of toppling these regimes and installing governments favorable to the U.S. If they do not like it............tough s---. I would allow them time to get their collective acts together. I shall dismount my soapbox now and leave this issue alone. Thanks for allowing me to vent.

When you mix religion and politics you are asking for trouble. We've seen this time and time again in history. I think the United States would do well to leave them alone. They (the muslim extremists) can't win, but they can do quite a bit of damage. Oh well.