This volume explores the underbelly of foreign aid - one country's assistance to another - from three levels, some of which are not totally on the level. You've got your international policy level, your between-the clouds-and ground practice level, and your personal emotional level. Policy may appear unreal. It is. Practice may appear rather confused. It is. Individual emotions are, well, a complicating factor. The story might appear anthropological. Even anthropomorphic meaning animals with human traits], or possibly atavistic you might say giving humans beastly traits]. So be it. Metaphors are metaphors and facts are facts. And this book is based on more of the latter than the former. The locations are where they are, but not always clearly specified. The humor is rife. Don't let it detract from the facts. The sadness is lamentable but integral. On all levels. Beasties aside, this is non-fiction, for the most part. The very most part. These things happened, happen for the most part. They are happening still with no sign of declension, grammatically or actually. The premise of this book is: Things ain't always what they seem. The conclusion is: Things ain't always what they seem. So? Like the author, keep on looking.

This volume explores the underbelly of foreign aid - one country's assistance to another - from three levels, some of which are not totally on the level. You've got your international policy level, your between-the clouds-and ground practice level, and your personal emotional level. Policy may appear unreal. It is. Practice may appear rather confused. It is. Individual emotions are, well, a complicating factor. The story might appear anthropological. Even anthropomorphic meaning animals with human traits], or possibly atavistic you might say giving humans beastly traits]. So be it. Metaphors are metaphors and facts are facts. And this book is based on more of the latter than the former. The locations are where they are, but not always clearly specified. The humor is rife. Don't let it detract from the facts. The sadness is lamentable but integral. On all levels. Beasties aside, this is non-fiction, for the most part. The very most part. These things happened, happen for the most part. They are happening still with no sign of declension, grammatically or actually. The premise of this book is: Things ain't always what they seem. The conclusion is: Things ain't always what they seem. So? Like the author, keep on looking.

This volume explores the underbelly of the US Air Force of some 40 years ago and its impact on the life and decision of a young alleged commander of troops looking for . . . well, you'll see. Mathematically, it is about 30% fiction and 70% reality. The persons therein are 80-90% real, sometimes surreal. Same for the military organization. Most names are changed, locations in Europe and the U.S. are not.Don't let the humor throw you. It is crucial to the context and allows the alleged commander to survive past the final page. Military machinations? There is that, orchestrated by the officer corps, as well as competence and incompetence of all corps. Love? You bet, and sex and minor violence, too. Terror? Well, of an institutional sort. Philosophy? Indeed, from West to East and including: the modern, the martial, the near marital, and that which is said to be mysterious and leads one elsewhere on the planet. And although this all took place a long time ago, it is undoubtedly still happening. Perhaps to you. Perhaps it already did. Questions are raised. A few are answered. Leaving some, like the author, still looking.