A friend pointed me to this Wikileaks disclosure – an e-mail from a former US ambassador to  Tajikistan.  It reminds me how much I miss Central Asia…

“The Ambassador lost track of the toasts after the tenth. His shot-glass held vodka. The minister’s high-ball glass was kept filled with un-cut Scotch. Late into the lunch, the minister was slurring badly and was not walking a straight line. Nevertheless, as the Ambassador kept attempting a gracious retreat, the Minister insisted on showing him “secret rooms” in the ministry. Each “secret room” was merely another public conference room with a large fresh flower display and – again and again – another round of toasts set out. This bizarre event was curious, because U.S.-Tajik military relations have incrementally been improving, especially with the National Guard, but also with the Russia-centric Ministry of Defense. Khairulloyev continues to make clear he serves at the pleasure of President Rahmonov and may be replaced after the November presidential election. Although this drunk-fest is how many old-guard former Soviets do mutual business, it was most unusual for an American guest. It was, to a degree, a mark of respect. We would not be surprised if President Rahmonov had ordered Khairulloyev to “do something for the departing Ambassador,” and we rather wonder if this may have been a sort of valedictory by an old-guard security minister who suspects his days of service are numbered. Whatever, we were pleased to have drunk Khairulloyev well under the table.”

 
The past decade has seen an explosion of media across the world – video, audio cassettes, CDs, satellite TV, computer media and the Internet. This has thrown open the doors for Christian witness as never before. Throughout this period, I’ve been privileged to be involved as a trustee of Kairos Media which works with national Christians to exploit these openings.

Kairos has now launched a web site to enable people to download videos directly in a number of different languages:  Click here to find out more or play sample below