Kandahar pics:

 Glasses, headscarf and a lot of really big guns

Tue Jul 6, 2010 3:45 PM EDT

By The Rachel Maddow Show

We're just hours away from the first of our live shows in Kabul. Rachel sends more pics from Afghanistan, including this one on the civilian side of the airport in Kandahar. She writes, "At civilian side of Kandahar Airport. Somehow I think the glasses aren't really complemented by the headscarf. "

Below is the counter for Pami Airways, where all tickets are written out by hand. After the jump, more pics, including Kandahar by air and the amazing military presence.

Kids and soldiers, south-central Kandahar City:

Checkpoint 7-10. That vehicle rolls forward and back across the entrance to function a sort of drawbridge/gate:

See?

Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles, a lot of them:

Afghan national civil order policeman (ancop) carrying a folding chair at checkpoint 7-10, which marks the dividing line between Kandahar City and Arghandab District:

It's amazing trip, just flying in to Kandahar City. Behold the opportunity!

You can tell immediately where the land is irrigated. Produce becomes abundant and gorgeous -- pomegranates, melons, grapes, everything:

[TRMS on Flickr]

Fourth of July in Afghanistan

All rights reserved Uploaded on Jul 4, 2010

... but it's the Indonesian contractors who made it! (Photo by Rachel Maddow)

On the 4th, the American brass cuts the giant flag cake... (Photo by Rachel Maddow)

 

Flak jacket and head scarf

Rachel gets used to her new attire.