Atlanta man among dead in Kabul hotel attack

[FourScore]

(45-year old Thor) Hesla was a graduate of Emory University and spent years working as a political consultant and organizer, including with the 1996 Olympics and the 1988 Democratic National Convention in Atlanta.

He also worked for former President Bill Clinton's 1992 campaign as well as on the presidential campaigns of Vice President Al Gore in 2000 and Sen. Bill Bradley.

"He was a big player," said former state Rep. Doug Teper, a friend since their days at Briarcliff High School.

A longtime family friend, Margaret Hylton Jones, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Hesla was aware of the danger of Afghanistan, his most recent assignment after stints in Kosovo, South Africa and Kazakhstan.

Jones said Hesla "put his affairs in order" before leaving for the assignment that began Nov. 1. He had updated his will. He took his father, a retired Emory professor, on a trip to New York. And he spent time with his 12-year-old niece and 10-year-old nephew.

He wrote friends that he lived and traveled with armed body guards and was limited to only certain restaurants and bars because of the danger. He said while Kabul was safer than Baghdad, "the situation is deteriorating."

http://www.jacksonville.com/apnews/stories/011508/D8U6MU2O1.shtml

[951-Riverside]

1. CIA n/t

[FourScore]

2. That was my first thought too. n/t

[NNN0LHI]

3. At the bare minimum

These kind don't die easy.

Someone knew what they were doing.

Don

[FourScore]

4. He grew up near where I grew up.

And was about my age. That's sad.