William Vollmann - An Afghanistan Picture Show - Or, How I Saved the World

: Frank Kitson,

Low-Intensity Operations: Subversion, Insurgency, Peace-keeping

(Harrisburg, Pa.: Stackpole Books, 1971).

My thanks to various Pakistanis and Afghans whose names I promised not to mention. Information which in my opinion could conceivably be of any value to the Soviets or their successors has been omitted. Such deletions only involve dates, places, etc., and in no way bias the record.

The Afghanistan National Liberation Front took me into Afghanistan and out again, fed me, guarded my safety, and was patient with my limitations. To all my friends there, especially to Suleiman, and to “Poor Man,” the leader I went in with, I wish to express my thanks. I cannot say how much I appreciate their kindness.

I owe even more, however, to General N. and his family — so much more that I cannot begin to write it all here. I hope that they will take this book as an earnest of an intention that I sought, however unsuccessfully, to fulfill.

Mr. Don Climent, Mr. Mark Ice, Dr. Levi Roque, Ms. Mary McMorrow and other International Rescue Committee (I.R.C.) personnel were extremely hospitable and helpful in arranging for me to visit their refugee camp operation near the border. I will always cherish my memories of Mary and Levi’s friendship. Mr. Hassan Ghulam of the Austrian Relief Committee (A.R.C.) permitted me to visit his organization’s camps near Mardan.

I thank all the people that I interviewed. Most of the transcripts have been considerably abbreviated in this book. Many crying necessities in 1982 are irrelevant now. Yet my purpose and theirs is not.

My thanks to the Ella Lyman Cabot Trust, which gave me $990 for use in distributing my fund-raising slide-tape presentation (which, like this book, was called “An Afghanistan Picture Show”), and to Aid for Afghan Refugees (A.F.A.R.), which provided $150 to duplicate the show. Mr. John Schaecher, then president of A.F.A.R., furthered my trip in many ways. I am very grateful to him. Mr. Seth Pilsk and Ms. Linda Ohde put in many hours with me preparing the slide show (and later a radio presentation). Both also gave generously of their resources for fund-raising. Mr. John Hotaki of Bennett Photo went beyond the call of duty in his help with photo reproduction for various fund-raising events.

Mr. S.P. translated the taped Pushtu interviews which I have transcribed here. I wish that I could thank him by name. Mr. Lindsey Grant gave me valuable advice on film and equipment accessories. I am very grateful to Mr. Robert Kvaal for his kind efforts to place the manuscript. The late James R. Withrow, Jr., provided encouragement and support. Professor Alan Paskow taught me my Wittgenstein. I would also like to thank Ms. Erica Bright, Professor Galya Diment, Mr. Paul Foster, Mr. John Glusman, Mr. Garth Pritchard, Ms. Catherine Reynolds, Dr. Janice K. Ryu, Mr. Scott Swanson and Mr. David Traub.

I apologize to anyone whose name I have forgotten. Eleven years is a long enough period of time for even the infallible Young Man to make mistakes.

William T. Vollmann is the author of seven novels, three collections of stories, and a seven-volume critique of violence, Rising Up and Rising Down . He is also the author of Kissing the Mask, Poor People, Riding Toward Everywhere , and Imperial . He has won the National Book Award, the PEN Center USA West Literary Award for fiction, a Shiva Naipaul Memorial Prize, and a Whiting Writers’ Award. His journalism and fiction have been published in The New Yorker, Esquire, Spin , and Granta . Vollmann lives in Sacramento, California.