The Hospital in Camp Bastion is currently staffed by the personnel of 204(NI) Field Hospital and an amazing feature of the hospital is that in addition to allied troops being treated for their battle wounds, Afghan civilians, including innocent women and children affected by the ruthless activities of the insurgents, receive treatment at the hospital for their injuries.
Even Taliban soldiers brought into the hospital with bullet/blast injuries are treated by the staff in the hospital. Each person admitted to the hospital regardless of their national/political/religious affiliation is looked upon as a valued member of the human race. This caring approach underscores the primary desire of the "occupying armies" to convey to the indigenous population loudly and clearly that first and foremost their objective is to improve the quality of life for everyone in Afghanistan.
Perhaps in the fullness of time, but hopefully sooner, the message might just percolate down into the hearts and minds of the Afghan's that living standards could be enhanced and life expectancy extended if only there was a willingness to tap into the tangible assistance that the outside world is waiting to provide.
Of course there are those who contend that the situation out here is much too complex and that the current efforts to bring about change will end in failure. Maybe this is so, but any one familiar with the totally unexpected outcome of the Northern Ireland conflict must recognise that once a new way of thinking is introduced a new and much better way of living becomes possible. Therefore no one should ever totally give up on any section of the human race enmeshed in conflict.
The dawning of a bright brand new day currently being experienced by Protestants and Roman Catholics in Northern Ireland is not something reserved for them alone. Thankfully it is something that can amazingly be shared by people wherever there is civil unrest, and that includes places such as Afghanistan, the Middle East and Zimbabwe, etc.
There is a church in Camp Bastion, nothing fancy – just another tent. Erected outside the church tent is a large wooden cross. It's a wonderfully reassuring feature of the Christian religion the wherever people might be located, whether in peaceful Northern Ireland or war torn Afghanistan, the symbol of the cross transmits the universal message that reconciliation is always on God's menu card for his creation.