M9 in Ethiopia (3 Images)

[barnack]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Amazing photographs!!!

[Vieri]

William, let me add my praise too - your Flickr set is simply wonderful, inspiring images all over! Also, I'd like to add my respect for the 80kg-carrying-feat I am not sure I could do that! Probably a few SB-800/SB-600 with small umbrellas would do it for me, even if they do not overpower the sun Anyway, back to the kudos: great job!

[Guest WPalank]

Wow, William, the story is as fascinating as the pictures are great!

 

As for the militiaman--he was a real presence, then? The pictures show him close and looking as if he means business. Did he ever intervene in a situation, or did it seem to you that his presence might have helped avoid a difficulty?

 

Was he cheerful and friendly with the locals, or more "militarily aloof and stand-offish"?

 

Thank you barnack and vieri.

 

Howard,

the militia were quite friendly. It only took half a day to get used to them. For example, i would explain to my driver that I was going to take a quick walk down to the watering hole. He would scream, "Militia" and at which point he would converse in Ahmeric to keep a tail on me.

 

There were some areas where the tribes got a bit aggressive and after pushing a few of them off me I would yell militia. He would typically stand in between us without wielding his weapon.

 

The thing I didn't like is that they must have seen a Rambo movie where the protagonist walked around holding the barrel of the weapon over his shoulder facing forward. It was often pointed at my head when we had a conversation. Going to rule #2, "Never point your weapon loaded or unloaded at something you don't intend to kill". In the case of two of the members, I took their weapons away from them and though a translator told them they will no longer point a loaded weapon at my head. I showed them how to point it at the ground or use the strap to point it in the air. they followed my directions.