Tis the season for giving….and contributing to victory in Afghanistan?! Thanks to groups like Spirit of America we all have the opportunity to do both. Jim Hake, Spirit of America’s founder, implores all ‘ordinary’ citizens to help our soldiers in Afghanistan by helping the Afghan people. His group and many others have donated tons of […]
Do we really need to do a recap regarding Afghanistan for 2009? I mean, what really happened? The only story that I can recall is an American soldier wearing pink boxers. Overview: Welllllll, I guess there was more to 2009 in Afghanistan than that. Cue ‘We Didn’t Start the Fire‘: “Food scarcity, Drone attacks, marital […]
First, some Afghan surge strategy news. Lt. Gen. David Rodriquez, the day-to-day commander of US and ISAF forces in Afghanistan provided a first glimpse of the actual implementation of the new strategy involving the addition of 30,000 more troops. In regard to the deployment of the thousands of surge troops, Rodriquez stated; “It will happen […]
Manasi Kakatkar from FPA’s India blog posted a fascinating video about the Royal Gurkha Regiment fighting in Afghanistan, produced by Atlantic. The short documentary highlights the remarkable ability of the Gurkhas, who hail from Nepal, to effectively work with both their British and Afghan partners. The video has its own soundtrack too! Check it out: […]
Many polls have now been released showing Americans’ feelings toward our presence in Afghanistan and President Obama’s new surge plan. As I mentioned the day of the President’s West Point speech, Obama’s Afghanistan policy approval rating had dropped all the way to 35%, an alarmingly low number. I blamed some of this on the long […]
It is my sadistic joy to follow political pundits on a regular basis. Sometimes I have I have to step back from laptop as the hot air can get unbearable. Their reactions to President Obama’s Afghanistan strategy, and the speech which announced it to the nation, have been something to see, I mean, read. Pundits […]
Just a quick word on the strategy laid out by Obama before getting to other firsthand observations of the speech. As I have written, I basically support the entire counterinsurgency ‘surge’ strategy, but find the inputting of an exit date, July 2011 presumably, to be potentially counterproductive (how can we not expect the Taliban to […]
“Twas the night before Obama’s Afghanistan Strategy speech and all through the internet, not a pundit was resting, all arguing that they knew what was right. The allies were briefed in hopes that more troops would soon be there. Then down came Obama to West Point with sweet words of strategy.” I offer an immediate […]
While Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was in Kabul for Karzai’s inauguration, she gave two extensive interviews; one with Kim Ghattas of the BBC and other with Mujahid Jawad of Radio Azadi. The BBC interview focused on how the US was going to effectively deal with Karzai for the next few years. Here’s an excerpt […]
The leaders of Britain’s government have been facing an increasingly skeptical citizenry in terms of the nation’s troop presence in Afghanistan, but they are fighting to keep morale and support for what they still believe is ‘the biggest source of threat to our national security’. Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Foreign Minister David Miliband made […]
There have been growing signals, some blatant, that the Obama administration is looking for a way out of Afghanistan, even as they are still in the process of deciding on a new strategy, which is likely to involve the deployment of thousands more American and NATO troops. It of course is prudent for the US […]
Happy Veteran’s Day! In honor of all American vets, and the foreign vets who have fought by our side in many wars, especially in Afghanistan, I would like to highlight President Obama’s Ft. Hood Memorial speech. Obama’s Memorial speech was one of his best and he really touched on why/how special the US military has […]
Inside sources in the Obama administration have let it be known that an Afghan strategy has been chosen, but we won’t officially hear about until the week of November 16, after Obama is back from his Asia tour (where he will meet with another dictator). Until we hear more I’ll have you enjoy some ex-football […]
I would just like to highlight this amazing story: A British Army explosives specialist who became a legend by risking his life to defuse more than 60 Taliban roadside bombs was killed in Afghanistan during his final mission before he took leave, the Times of London reported Tuesday. The specialist’s name was Staff Sergeant Olaf […]
Would be presidential runoff challenger Abdullah Abdullah is out and Hamid Karzai is staying in. Everything is now all cleared up. Right? What? There are issues still left to settle? Even solve?!? The near and long term future hold the answers to….President Obama’s new Afghan strategy decision and implementation? Will a second term Karzai be […]