After three hours of frantic customer service calls and running around on the room of the Windy‘s Connecticut Avenue offices, I can safely report that I know how to operate a satellite modem. It appears that I’m actually leaving for Afghanistan soon. Kriston Capps’s ability to close luggage delivered a crucial assist.

So the vast majority of my Afghanistan-blogging will be for the Washington Independent, which I truly hope you’ll read. The vote of confidence (and resource-expenditure!) the Windy has given me for this trip is incredibly touching and I won’t be letting them down. But I’ll be posting here as much as time and technology allows. Given the lag, though, I recruited a platoon of guestbloggers who I hope you’ll make welcome. All of them are deep thinkers and great writes. Meet the crew:

Ari — one of the shining stars of the progressive movement — you met already. We’ve also got my frequent guestblogger Hicks, who now blogs at Anonymous Secs. Joy is a good friend whom I’ve never actually met IRL. Colin Asher, an award-winning poverty reporter, is one of my oldest and best friends. RockRichard, who comments here frequently (it can be lonely), blogs at VoteVets and is an Army veteran of Afghanistan. Katie Halper, who you’ve seen over at Laura’s place, is a rediscovered summer-camp friend and liberal comedian. Ian C. Moss, a more recent friend, just enrolled in law school; once danced onstage with MC Hammer; and is a Marine veteran of Iraq. And most special to me is my girlfriend, who has decided to blog anonymously — she exists, damn you — for fear of her professional reputation; she’ll be posting as Attackerlady starting around September 8. Yay team.

Last thing: If you email me, please understand that it’s going to take me a looooong time to reply and it’s nothing personal, unless you know for a fact that I hate you.

OK, more to come from the airport and thereafter.