Afghanistan ~
Articles worth reading that are a bit more important than “Balloon Boy”:
Adopt-a-stan by Michael Yon
The inbox was peppered with hyperlinks to Dexter Filkins’ story in the New York Times, Stanley McChrystal’s Long War. One message came from Kathryn Lopez at National Review, asking if I had seen the article and for any thoughts.
It should be said that I respect the work of Dexter Filkins. Mr. Filkins is a seasoned war correspondent whose characterizations of Iraq ring true, while Stanley McChrystal’s Long War resonates with my ongoing experiences in Afghanistan. Despite the great length of the article, the few points that did not resonate were more trivialities for discussion than disagreements. Mr. Filkins did a fine job….
>>>
Dealing with the ANA Embedded in Afghanistan…a Marine’s opinions and experiences as an Embedded Tactical Trainer with the Afghan National Army in Kunar Province, Afghanistan.
Getting what you want out of the ANA is a huge part of the job. If you can’t get along with your ANA commander, and get him to do things your way, then you aren’t going to get much done, because most ANA commanders can’t be relied upon to show any initiative to improve and do their jobs well….
>>>
Indians fight the Taliban Helmand Blog - Afghanistan
Indians are flocking to join the British Army to fight the Taliban. They are entitled to sign up, as nationals of the Commonwealth. Army sources say there has been a surge recently because of the threat of a Taliban victory in Afghanistan, which would have serious consequences for India’s Muslim neighbour, Pakistan. Sharat S. Mulchandi, 18, from Karnataka, is undergoing army cadet training at home and plans to join a British infantry regiment when he flies into the UK. Last night he said: “Pakistan is a breeding ground for terrorists, it’s dangerous for India. “We will never forget what the fanatics did last year in Mumbai”….
>>>
BY MICHAEL SCHEUER
The go-light strategy in Afghanistan is a joke. If Obama’s serious about victory, it’s time to start making unpleasant choices.
One has to admire the ingenuity of the policymakers, journalists, and generals who are desperately seeking to avoid hard decisions on what to do about America’s lost war in Afghanistan. Last spring, the Barack Obama administration, Republican leaders, and senior U.S. generals signed on to the fairy-tale prescription spun by David Kilcullen in his book The Accidental Guerrilla….
>>>
The Front ~ The Taliban-Al Qaeda merger Peter Bergen (what the press and WH spokesmen don’t seem to talk about all that much)
On July 25, Najibullah Zazi, a lanky man in his mid-twenties, walked into the Beauty Supply Warehouse in Aurora, Colorado, a suburb of Denver. The visit was captured on a store video camera. Wearing a baseball cap and pushing a shopping cart, Zazi appeared to be just another suburban guy….
>>>
And a bit of Iraq ~
The Commute JD Johannes Outside The Wire (I have his DVDs ~ I highly recommend them.)
I parked my car in the garage. Kinda pricey at $18 dollars a day, but it wouldn’t be there long. A friend of mine was flying home from Seattle in the evening and would drive my car home. It worked out good for both of us, especially since I will not need my car until December when I get home from working in Iraq.
Yeah, I have a long commute to the office….
>>>
If you want to know what’s actually going on in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Military, read the blogs of those who embed independently with our troops and the troops who are on the frontlines. The media ~ well, forget the media. They have a completely different agenda than just reporting the facts. And they don’t so that very well, to begin with…
Here are a couple of suggestions:
The Thunder Run (David has hundreds of RSSs to blogs and news and does all the heavy lifting for us.)
Mudville Gazette (the first milblog I ever read that got me completely hooked. Greyhawk and Mrs. Greyhawk are exceptional!)
You’ll also find many, many excellent blogs on their sidebars.
I’ve been fortunate to meet some of the milbloggers and embeds at the Milblog Conferences. A more fun and lovable group I doubt you could ever meet.
Besides ~ they’re family!
**********************************************
