for a vacation. We have a very large Middle Eastern community here in San Diego County, particularly East County, where the Cajon Valley school district is located.

Learning trip. These types of trips are popular among high school students looking for something “meaty” to put on their college application. My son did one of these in Ecuador. His friend did a service learning trip to Kenya.

Other sources mention they were traveling to see extended family.

and how about Syria...always a destination...

and what parent would allow their child to travel to an occupied war zone...I know 20 years in Afghanistan is more or less a forgotten war but did mom and dad get the least bit suspicious when a Kevlar vest was on the list of need to bring items???

the chaos involved...I understand wanting to see family but not when this draw down of troops and the rapid encroachment of the Taliban was obvious and in real time...

schedule a vacation.

Some folks decided to backpack along the Iraq - Iran border.
Hey, why not ? Sounds like a fun trip. What could go wrong ?

They were captured by Iranian troops.

I don't recall how it ended.

until the were let go as some kind of diplomatic bargaining chip.

And their parents will get an up close visit to Afghanistan. Who is responsible for this trip?

If so,... their heads may have been chopped.

planned to be back before school started here on Aug. 17.

Maybe have a little compassion for them, anyone?

The internet outrage beast has no need to understand facts.

The cartoon version of this story is so much better than the more complicated truth.

I'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt.

I lived in San Diego for 20 years.
Been to El Cajon a zillion times.

Apparently now the people are dumber?

And they went back on vacation?

Yeah, that's dumb.

They got out of there once as refugees.

Then decided, what the heck,
let's go back on vacation.

Now we have to get them out of there a second time.

Vacationing in Afghanistan at this time was a dumb thing to do.
It's been a war zone for years and our troops are leaving.

But what the heck, let's go back on vacation?
And let's take the kids.

And now look at their situation.

That seems an incredibly odd decision to make on Aug16, under the circumstances.

to leave? Just trying to figure out the thinking that led to such an odd choice.

original articles at the LAT and The Hill.

Thanks.

Our troops and resources have to fix their stupidity?

Oh, and have compassion while doing it.

Who decided to go back home and visit?

And now we have to get them out a second time,
and have compassion while doing it?

Who decided to go back home and visit?

And now we have to get them out a second time,
and have compassion while doing it?