Thomas Ricks points out that this isn’t a war in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and now Yemen, it’s starting to feel like a war against an entire region. Why doesn’t anyone ever tell me these things? I knew the United States conducted drone strikes a few years ago, including one that killed an American citizen on [...]
Afghanistan
U.S. Army deploys psychological operations against U.S. Senators
From Rolling Stone Congressional delegations – known in military jargon as CODELs – are no strangers to spin. U.S. lawmakers routinely take trips to the frontlines in Iraq and Afghanistan, where they receive carefully orchestrated briefings and visit local markets before posing for souvenir photos in helmets and flak jackets. Informally, the trips are a [...]
Shouldn’t NATO be winning in Afghanistan by now?
The Independent is asking some tough questions overt the lack of progress in Afghanistan. Twelve months ago, Marjah was a ghost town, deep in rural Helmand province and deep in the grip of the Taliban. The bazaar was closed and those who could run had fled; the rest cowered in their homes. It was never [...]
Rumsfeld’s memoir
Donald Rumsfeld has written a memoir. He places part of the problems in Iraq on Condoleezza Rice. What Mr. Rumsfeld offers is a far more believable account of events, one that holds individuals responsible for failures of execution. He describes a White House with internal problems, at the heart of which was a National Security [...]
When conditions change
Warren Kinsella has a good post titled TEN POINTS: WHEN DEMOCRACY LOSES ALL MEANING that you should check out. I was going to reply in his comments but after drafting up a reply, I decided to post here instead. Looking back at the decision that was made to withdraw troops from Afghanistan in 2011, I [...]
The Cost of the War In Afghanistan
Bob Hebert of the New York Times writes about the hidden cost of the Afghanistan war. It’s a quaint notion, but true: with wars come responsibilities. The meat grinder of war takes its toll in so many ways, and we should be paying close attention to all aspects of it. Instead, we send our service [...]
‘Hello mum, this is going to be hard for you to read …’
Letters home from a 19 years old soldier from Afghanistan, including the one he wrote after he was killed in action on June 2, 2009. The family gave the letters to the Independent to publish. In the spring of this year, the 2nd Battalion, The Rifles deployed to Afghanistan. Halfway through the battalion’s tour, it [...]
Can the west win in Afghanistan?
How to win in Afghanistan? Peter Bergen looks at the capability of the Taliban insurgents, NATO troops, and the Afghan army and police, compares the current conflict to the Soviet invasion, and weighs the dangers of civilian casualties and popular support. He concludes that renewed American effort in the fight will "produce a relatively stable [...]
