Took the Summer Off

After toasting my brain over the war campfire for so long, I decided to splash into the depths of average life for the summer. More Bunker posts will follow soon.

SCHWACKING AFGHAN COPS - CRAZY AS JACK

Our dudes schwacked a bunch of Afghan police Tuesday – green on green, wake the general-worthy blip on a computer chat room deep within the secure network of the task force headquarters in Bagram. It appears to have been friendly fire, a mistake.

LINK: http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2007/06/13/mistaken_ids_lead_to_deadly_gunfight/

The Afghan cops were at remote check post in Nangarhar province – which is the end of the god damned earth, really. They thought the US troops were Taliban. The US troops apparently thought the Afghan cops were the bad guys – fog of war, miscommunication, happens all the time.
When the local cop, one who survived tell the Associated Press he’s “very angry,” and that he and his lazy-ass, barely professional thugs in uniform are “here to protect the Afghan government and help serve the Afghan government, but the Americans have come to kill us." – well, that’s good news for the real Taliban, who are no doubt trying to capitalize on this for their propaganda machine.
Shut up Mr. Mohammad, you wanna-be cop. You wouldn’t even have a job or pay if it were not for America. War sucks and this is a war. It sucks that some US helicopter rockets bombed your buddies. But you don’t really have the right to say that you are the protectors of the Afghan government – not when Americans have been dying in your country for the past 5 years to prop up the fledgling Afghan government. Of course, dumb – stupid NATO public affairs officers on the “island of Kabul” they have no information. The “other” U.S.-led coalition spokesman said he was looking into the report. So, basically, put your head in the sand – don’t give the reporters anything resembling the truth – and wait it out – because the “coalition” is getting hammered for killing the wrong people these days, too many civilian deaths and now Afghan cops.

On Monday, our guys shot up a car full of civilians in Kunar province, nearby. They called it an ISAF checkpoint – but ISAF is merely a NATO acronym for the task force now – in Kunar it’s likely American operating.

That’s perfect propaganda fodder for the Taliban. No one outside Afghanistan cares, so wait it out – let it blow over and move onto some bullshit about re-building schools.

WHACKY JACK

The only “good” news is that crazy Tora Bora Jack Idema has “left the building” – Pol-i-Charki prison that is…Idema, a strange cat who I used to know from the Mustafa Hotel in Kabul, got 10 years for running his own jail for alleged terrorists. Karzai later pardoned him.

LINK: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Idema

His story is unique, and now doubt – Jack will go one telling it – to whoever will still listen.

The Libyan Escapee Shoots Off His Mouth

So, this Libyan Al-Qaeda insurgent who escaped from U.S. detention in Bagram, in July 2005,lashes out at U.S. and its Saudi allies. The Associated Press bureau in Cairo often reports on these Internet video postings. A 45-minute rant on video by Abu Yahia al-Libi, was monitored by IntelCenter, a U.S.government contractor.
LINK: AP Wire Story
http://fe56.news.sp1.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070530/ap_on_re_mi_ea/al_qaida_saudi_video
“Al-Libi” which means “of Libya” - speaks out against the Saudi ruling family, the “House of al-Saud.”
He accuses the Saudi elites of seeking praise from the White House and allowing U.S. warplanes to launch attacks on Muslims. This Spring, the Saudi government rounded up dozens of “terrorists,” who are likely Wahabi islamic militants – who really seek to wrestle control from what they feel is an oppressive and corrupt government headed by Saudi Royals.
Al-Libi’s comments offer the enemy’s perspective – key to countering such elusive foes in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He even offers insights into how he observed U.S. troops who guarded him for years at Bagram.

LINK: More info on Al-Libi
http://siteinstitute.org/bin/articles.cgi?ID=publications186606&Category=publications&Subcategory=0

IntelCenter now says that al-Libi has become al-Qaida's most visible face on the Internet, more than Osama binLaden's second in command, Ayman al-Zawahri. He’s the spokesman, the dude who escaped from our jail – damn, we screwed up letting this guy go free – he’s become a hero for the insurgents and a black eye for us.
For more information on al-Libi, check out the April 2 posting on the Bunker: http://bunker-chatter.blogspot.com/2007/04/al-qaida-gets-their-message-outdo-we.html

Yet, because of his emotion – al-Libi’s lashing out at the Saudi Royals exposes a rift among Arabs and among Muslims that should be examined and perhaps exploited – should we ever truly seek success against global terrorism.
This sustained unpopularity that many Saudi people feel toward their oil-revenue wealthy rulers is fueled by the fundamental Wahabi movement – a clear and present threat not just to the Saudi royals, but to U.S. oil interests in the region.

LINK: Wahabism http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wahhabi

Yet, how often do you hear about Wahabi insurgents on our news here in the U.S.? It’s hard to explain to average Americans what “wahabi” means. Just as difficult is discussing Hezb-Islami-Gulbuldin (HIG) fighting U.S. troops on Afghanistan or the Deobandi movement festering from Pakistani madrassas.

LINK: (HIG) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hezb-e-Islami_Gulbuddin

LINK: Deobandi http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deobandi

These are some of the real roots of terror – yet, Americans are clearly overwhelmed by Iraq to take time and understand who are real enemy are. While in Afghanistan, I had been reading the Robert Baer book “Sleeping With The Devil.”

LINK: Robert Baer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Baer

Baer, a former covert CIA agent, details our relationship with the Saudis, dating back to the end of WWII – when we sent over oil rig experts to take the crude from Saudi land – creating fuel for America and enormous wealth for Saudi elites. This business relationship has dictated U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East for our country’s entire role as a superpower – to in clued defending Saudi Arabia in Desert Storm when we liberated Kuwait from Saddam. Most of all, our need for oil and the U.S. government and business relationships with the House of Al-Saud has the Islamic fundamentalists pissed off.

In late-2005, I had a coffee at Bagram airfield with an Iraqi-American analyst who worked for the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). I asked him what he thought, “Are the Muslims fundamentalists more upset over U.S. support of Israel over Palestine or U.S. support of the House of al-Saud?”
The intel analyst paused, his jaw dropped. He said that very few Americans, if any, had ever discussed that topic – commonly known on the Arab street as the two main causes for terrorist hostilities.

And again, no one in America even talks about these problems.

How does this topic compare at the water cooler with American Idol?

Iraq Presentation In New Haven

A fellow New Havener has also been covering the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Daniel Smith has gone over a few times and is planning another trip to Iraq. Before he goes, he’s holding a fundraiser here in New Haven – “Images of Iraq” on May 31.
Smith will speak about his “un-embedded experiences” in the war-torn country in a visual presentation.-accompanied by violinist Netta Hadari, playing music of J.S.Bach. Free food and wine. Proceeds support charities for the people of Iraq, including Daniel's efforts to bring medical equipment/funds.

8:00 PM Thursday, May 31st United Church on the Green
323 Temple Street (corner of Elm St) New Haven
For more information, call (203)901-7558 or visit danielwsmith.com

It seems like it might be worth checking out – if you live in the area. I will be there, not like I really need to see more images of Iraq – Lord knows I see them inside my skull each night with a much different soundtrack than Bach!

Memorial Day

To those of us who did not make it back, from Afghanistan and Iraq and points along the way...
We've returned home to die civilian deaths, whatever accident or ailment comes our way.
You died a soldier's death.

As long as we draw breath, you will not be forgotten - our friends, our comrades, our brothers.

As we celebrate tonight, the first shot poured will be in your honor.

Information Operations In Iraq Spoils Media Coverage

So, the Iraqi government is now limiting press freedom following enemy attacks. Afghans are also cracking down on media. And the U.S. is advising them both on information strategy in their newly formed “democracies.”

AP-Wire, Yahoo News - No photos allowed after Iraqi blasts
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070515/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_media_ban

This ban in Iraq will have the greatest impact on photographers, who will not be able to depict graphically the extent of attacks. Already, photographers are taking huge risks to obtain imagery in the aftermath of violent acts - so many risk their lives daily to cover the horror of war.
The reporters will then be forced later to piece together details – often relying on government-issued statements that have been vetted and prepared for public release. This limits reporters from recreating the reality of an event – and in turn allows the military and the government to control what information reaches the public.

Reporting in Iraq was always dangerous. On Jan. 18, 2004, while reporting for the Stars and Stripes, I covered a suicide car bomb attack on the Assassin’s Gate – the main entrance to the Green Zone, just block from the Tigris River. Dozens of charred bodies and wounded Iraqi filled the busy boulevard. U.S. soldiers arrived and created a perimeter, pushing reporters and grieving civilians across the bridge. My photographer and I ducked down some steps into an Iraqi neighborhood to remain near the blast site and get the story. Several times we had U.S. troops point their weapons at us, despite me yelling that we were American journalists from the Stripes. But we got the story, a compelling look at how our troops were attacked and their response.

Link: Stripes Story - CAR BOMB AT THE “MOTHER OF ALL CHECKPOINTS” (MOAC)
http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=19145&archive=true

It has steadily become worse for those assigned to cover attacks and combat missions. Security is a word that the military and the government use – I don’t think that word even applies to places like Baghdad anymore – especially for civilian journalists trying to cover the news.

But more importantly, there is a campaign against the release of the truth in press reports.

Right now, the U.S. government and its contracted corporations provide advisors to government staff in both Iraq and Afghanistan. The public affairs and strategic communication professionals – if they are doing their job correctly – offer these emerging governments’ information tactics to control the release of sensitive information. Look at the company MPRI – which supplies many of these advisers – which is currently listing a position to fill for a “Mentor to the Chief of Information” for the Iraqi Defense Ministry. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that either the U.S. State Department or the U.S. military pushed for this ban behind the scenes.

Both the enemy and the U.S. government are extremely aware of information warfare and strategy. The insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan and our own counterinsurgency efforts rely on public support. Both the Insurgents and the U.S.-advised Iraqi and Afghan governments have a stake in what “bad” news gets reported through the press to the public.
Of course, in late 2005 the U.S. military faced a scandal when it was buying good news. Several press reports confirmed that the U.S. military paid newspapers to print strategically important news as part of its information operations (IO) campaign.

Link: 2005 Story on Iraq IO campaign – paying newspapers

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002654715_articles30.html
In fact, when I worked in media relations at the U.S. military’s top headquarters in Afghanistan I routinely interacted with IO officers who worked to sway information toward a favorable outcome – stopping short of allowing them to mislead or misinform the media for military gain – although they suggested that we add misinformation to press statements time and again. It did not happen in Afghanistan on my watch – we offered as much truth as security would allow.

Publicly, the military’s IO operators are kept in a dark corner and rarely discussed. They have limited information released to open source users about their tactics and strategy.
U.S. Military Information Operations

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_Information_Operations_Warfare_Command
The Interior Ministry argues that the ban is to preserve evidence – not sure how a few photographers snapping photos will hinder the evidence collection process – even if there was a criminal charge to purse, the footsteps of reporters would not jeopardize that process. In fact, they are more concerned about the published photos affecting the public and offering details to the enemy.

Sadly, this crackdown will likely remain in place and limit what audiences within and outside Iraq can learn about such attacks. The government has guns to enforce it. Even cavalier complaints by organizations such as Reporters Without Borders – whose fourth estate (media) ethics originate with Thomas Jefferson – will have little affect on the Iraqi decision to enforce this ban.

This is also why recent articles – such as Damien Cave’s coverage (A1, 5-23-07) in the New York Times about U.S. troops wounded and killed during the search for captured U.S. troops – tend to shock the American public. The grim reality presented with on-the-spot reporting and photography captures the reality of war – without the spin control and influence of military and government information operations.

Both Iraq and Afghanistan have a recent history – before U.S.-led intervention – of state-controlled national press and heavily-monitored international coverage. Do you think Saddam or the Taliban allowed free reporting – everything was managed and censored. Now, under U.S. guidance – both governments are struggling to contain the press. In Kabul the Afghan Interior Ministry cracked down on local news outlets – raiding offices of local TV and targeting reporters who wrote something against what the government wanted presented.

Link: Afghan Media Crack Down http://www.miamiherald.com/578/story/104999.html

Military strategists – especially those in information operations – seek to limit what locals know, certainly limit what the enemy knows and subsequently limit what people in the U.S. and other Western countries know. With public support waning at home and plummeting among people within the battle zone – bad news reinforces their dissent.

War Everywhere, from Tripoli to New Haven

It seems like there is wars just about everywhere these days. just look at the carnage filtered to us from the streets of Tripoli through the front page of the New York Times Monday. Ramzi Haidar's photo of a fallen Lebanese soldiers and his comrades during a firefight with "islamic radicals" was amazing work. Haidar had to get extremely close to get that show - up close and dangerous. It captured a glimpse of battle that few of us ever see. Unfortunately, it gets a quick glance from the hundreds of thousands who read the Times - because so many don;t understand the conflict in Lebanon right now. So many times it's confused with last summer's Israeli offensive. It is really a brewing civil war - taking place within Lebanon's borders between the government and these cleverly labeled - Islamic Radicals - which sounds like a bad 1960's pop band from the Middle East. Is it really just a crackdown on "radicals"? Or is it something more. Perhaps to the radicals it is actually a holy war or even a struggle against on oppressive Lebanese government and their elite structure. For the government, it is clearly a power struggle to maintain order within their borders. Lord knows the Lebanese have their other problems to deal with, Hezbollah, Syria and of course, Israel.

LINK TO story and photo:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/20/world/middleeast/20cnd-lebanon.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

What can the U.S. do to influence this situation? Not much, we gave up out foothold in Lebanon two decades ago and have maintained a limited presence since. Perhaps, the State Department could ask Israel to lay off while the Lebanese sort this out. We have little or no communication with Syria and Hezbollah leaders to have them remain out of this conflict - because any support to the radicals could broaden the conflict into a larger war.

On the other end of the Islamic belt - way over in Pakistan - President Musharraf has a loose hold on power in his government and is losing support from the tribal elders in the the Northwest frontier (bordering Afghanistan) down to the country's largest deep water port, Karachi - where rioters killed 42 people earlier this month.

What can we do to affect change in Pakistan. Well, first of all we give them tons of cash - huge military support and contracts for the latest in military technology. Then we turn a blind eye to Islamabad's deals with our enemies in the tribal lands - which likely harbor the remnants of Al-Qaeda, the Taliban headquarters and likely Osama bin Laden - if he still lives.

If Musharraf's government topples, we must follow Sun Tzu's art of war and invade, striking at their weakest moment. In fact, we should have invaded Pakistan when they were weakened by their massive earthquake in September 2005. We had an entire airborne brigade from the 82nd Airborne Division based in eastern Afghanistan. That brigade could have been airlifted from Bagram and parachuted onto airports in Islamabad - other paratroopers could secure Pakistan's few nuke sites. Follow on forces from the Marines and Army could then land and control the city and major roads. From there and from within Afghanistan - U.S. and coalitions forces could squeeze the Taliban from both sides - add a military pressure that would force them to flee of succumb.

That is the only way we could ever show success from our foray into empire building in central Asia. We have fallen to a "classic blunder."

"Ha ha! You fool! You fell victim to one of the classic blunders! The most famous is never get involved in a land war in Asia" - Vizzinni, the Sicilian strategist from the Princess Bride - 1987

Pakistan Border - Everyone's Problem

Finding alternative sources of information on the war is critical. We have to invest our time to "go beyond the headlines of FOX and CNN.
Radio Free Europe – Radio Liberty – is a U.S. government-run service based in Prague. Their Afghanistan reporter, Ron Synovitz, used to cover our command in Afghanistan and continues to take his reporting to heights well-above the standard spin/slant/propaganda that is often heard on similar radio services.
He has an interesting interview with Amin Tarzi – an analyst with some good info on the recent border clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
This area is likely the nexus of the war on terror – should we ever get back to actually hunting terrorists rather than filling executives wallets in war-profiteering corporate America. The border region is where the Taliban and al-Qaeda have their safe haven. We lost a U.S. soldier there last week, when he was returning from negotiations on the Pakistan side.

LINK:
http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2007/5/70A67EBD-B0D1-4BDC-9116-F0DF10AB417D.html

Sadly, the argument between Afghanistan and Pakistan along their border goes back to the establishment of the Durand Line – a dotted line drawn on a British map, so very long ago. This is our inherited problem from a previous empire that did not settle its own affairs. Remember, the British fought three wars in Afghanistan – losing terribly each time.
So what are our chances for success?
- Build schools to villagers, but the Taliban target them.
- Support Hamid Karzai – our puppet, who is losing support among the people. Raid villages while hunting Taliban, alienate the population with our tactics.
- Don’t staff or fund the fight in Afghanistan, because we are tied up and losing in Iraq. (We barely have enough helicopters in the Stan to supply the troops in remote locations)
- Support ideas of freedom, democracy and rights for people – our own values and principles. Then break those values time and again in very public ways, such as the killings and torture of prisoners. The Afghan people see that we often don’t practice what we preach. And what I know of Afghans, they are simple people, logic is basic. With them, trust must be earned and can be easily lost.

Any success we gain from this adventure will come from the efforts of young men of working class backgrounds – the boys who joined the Army for college money and a better life themselves. It’s the 19-year-old private who offers a “high-five” to a smiling Afghan kid – who may grow to become a future Afghan president or become a anti-Western insurgent – that will make the difference.

Warrior Returns On His Shield

The story I read today in U.S New and World Report has me absolutely stunned. The article, about the writings and experiences of Staff Sgt. Darrell Griffin before he was shot by a sniper Mar. 21 in Sadr City, worsened my already somber mood. This is, by far, is the best piece of journalism about Iraq recently – trust me I read it all. If you are a soldier or a veteran, make sure you’ve got nothing else to do after reading this story – because it will fuck with your head.
Learning of SSG Griffin’s life – his philosophy on warfare and his personal courage – I was first struck by what a significant loss America suffers when a warrior like Griffin falls. Then I tried to grasp his family’s suffering. Finally, I became lost in my own thoughts of combat – how I wrote about guys like Griffin and also served my time in uniform beside troops of Griffin’s caliber.
This war is not over, for so many of us. For many around me here in the civilian world – the war never began.

Rest In Peace Staff Sgt. Darrell Griffin – like a Spartan, you returned on your shield.

LINK: US NEWS – Darrell Griffin
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/070513/21soldier.htm

RIP Kate Webb

An outstanding female war correspondent has passed away, Kate Webb - who covered everything from Vietnam to Afghanistan. In 1971, when Webb was with the UPI in Cambodia, North Vietnamese troops captured her and five other journalists and held them three weeks. The press reported she was dead - but she came out of it after 23 days captivity. She was also attacked by militia in Afghanistan.

She had an amazing run - it's worth checking out her story.

Here's the obit from the NY Times.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/15/world/asia/15webb.html?ref=media

Lots Of News From The Stan

One headline after the other....Afghanistan surfaced this weekend as a major news item. But what does it all mean?
Carlotta Gall, one of the few correspondents who knows Afghanistan well enough to write beyond the official line of U.S. and NATO officials, went to a remote part of Western Afghanistan to cover a significant development in the fight against the Taliban insurgency. The U.S. handed over military security of the less-volatile Western region in early 2005 to NATO forces from Europe – mainly the Italian Army in Herat.
Recently, out special forces have been active in the area – to include calling in air strikes on suspected Taliban positions and raids within villages. The Times quotes villagers who say there were no Taliban – in fact, the villagers themselves claim responsibility for rising up against the Americans after U.S. forces allegedly went through several houses, shot some and arrested others.
So, by going after some bad guys – we created a whole new dynamic, one faced by every occupying force that ever fought in Afghanistan. Afghans are fiercely territorial and will defend themselves against all odds if they feel their lives or homes are in danger. Ask the British, whose might could not prevail over the “dushman,” (enemy) or the Soviets who lost to the rabble of “dukhi.” (ghosts)
Apparently, many civilians were recently killed in bombing raids. Civilian deaths following a March attack on a Marine convoy led to a senior U.S. commander apologizing and paying families. Karzai condemns civilian deaths routinely, and the U.S. State Department allows him to rant publicly to save face an maintain public support – although his tirades fall on deaf ears when it comes to the continuing of combat action that may endanger Afghan civilians.
Also, an Afghan troop shot a U.S. colonel and a U.S. master sergeant last week near Kabul. Now, some in the Afghan government are calling for negotiations with the Taliban.

NY Times Sunday: Losing Civilian Support In Afghanistan
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/13/world/asia/13AFGHAN.html?em&ex=1179288000&en=6e78c13b23e42517&ei=5087%0A

So, our return public relations tactic – publicly display the body of Mullah Dadullah – front page of the New York Times Monday (May 14). Out forces finally caught up with the one-legged jihadist and offered him a one-way ticket to visit Allah. Unfortunately, like when previous enemy commanders are killed, there are plenty of followers to fill his shoes – er, uh…shoe?

NY Times / Mullah Dadullah Dead:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/14/world/asia/14afghan.html


We lost a U.S. soldier coming back from a meeting just across the Pakistan border. No doubt some tribal militia loyal to the insurgency carried out the attack. The tribal region that straddles Afghanistan’s eastern border and the Northwest of Pakistan is clearly the heart of our problem fighting the insurgency – and perhaps the sanctuary for Osama bin Laden and the thriving remnants of the Taliban and al-Qaeda. (Think the border of Cambodia-Vietnam during the late 1960’s). If we had more troops on hand – rather than having them bogged down in Iraq – we could theoretically push into the region. Of course, that would mean jeopardizing our relationship with the Pakistani government. So the politicking along the border will continue – and so will the insurgency.

NY Times / Troops Attacked After Pakistan Meeting
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/14/world/asia/14cnd-afghan.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Marine Killings Reveal Failing Policy

When Col. John Nicholson, commander of 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, briefed Pentagon reporters Tuesday (May 8) on the March killings of 19 Afghan civilians by a Marine Special operations unit, I expected for the blame to fall squarely on the Leathernecks. Following a suicide car bomb in March, the Marines sprayed gunfire for miles, about 19 Afghans, 50 wounded. They pulled the company out afterward.
Nicholson’s statement led with highlights of his unit’s achievements in eastern Afghanistan.

“We'd humbly suggest we're winning here in Afghanistan,” he said.

Good points all around, tough terrain, illiterate population, troops living in austere conditions, unclear enemy with challenging tactics. Nicholson represented his troopers as best he could.
But what made the press?
We paid off the families of the killed Afghans – sympathy payment - and also apologized.
Support of the civilian population is key in counter-insurgency operations. Even the Taliban has been trying to apologize lately when they kill innocent civilians – they need their support too.
Nicholson told the Afghans he felt, “deeply, deeply ashamed and terribly sorry,” and that this was a terrible, terrible mistake.” He added that people in U.S. are grieving with the Afghans for their loss – while so many Americans do not even know about this incident!

How many Americans have any clue about the U.S. military’s mission in Afghanistan?

Who are we fighting in Kabul?

Bizarre news from Kabul Sunday. An Afghan soldier flipped and kills 2 U.S. troops outside Pul-e-Charkhi prison - just east of the capital city along the Jalalabad road. Two Of our guys were also wounded.
These dudes were apparently under Combined Security Transition Command, U.S. soldiers assigned the task of training and mentoring Afghan forces. Our guys were leaving the prison perimeter when the shooting started upon their convoy. The shooter was gunned down by Afghan forces from within the prison security detail.

No motive, so far.

This investigation must have things at Camp Phoenix hopping, Bagram too. Imagine if our guys began to lose trust of the Afghans they patrol alongside. That would create a challenge.

The press officer played up the cooperation with the Afghan Army continues slant - a hard sell consider two troops are headed home to be buried.

So who are we fighting in Kabul? Some Army officers still think it's the press...

Cracking Down On Soldiers' Blogs?

Reuters reported Wednesday (May 2) that the Army is concerned about military information falling into the wrong hands by way of military bloggers.
Troops whose blogs are born from the battlefield must now consult with their superiors for OPSEC (operational security) violations.
In mid-2005, the task force I was assigned to in Afghanistan clamped down on military blogs and made us read and sign statements that we would not post blogs without prior approval from the command. Troops still did and I never heard of the rule being enforced through military law when the order was disobeyed.
Look around the Internet today, there are hundreds of military blogs out there – are they being targeted?
Somehow, as Reuters reported, the “Army's new regulation could affect service members who have returned from war zones and started blogs about their combat experiences.”

So that means this blog, The Bunker, could be subject to military authority? Good luck, boys, “Bring It On.” (I don’t see how they could stop discharged veterans from blogging about the war.)

This will not stop soldiers from blogging – it will serve as a tool to screw them if they are caught posting without military review of the content. What’s concerning about this apparently vague and hard to implement directive is that who is to say that the soldier’s supervisor is a good blog editor? Does that young officer or NCO charged with editing a soldier’s blog have the ability to understand security risks on a regional or theater-wide level? Who is to say that the supervisor’s personal bias might lead him to proofread and edit for content, rather than a security check? Could this be a veiled attempt to clamp down on soldier’s discussion of the war to prevent public understanding of inconsistencies of political rhetoric? After all, if Pvt. Joe Snuffy is seeing the war and writing in common language about his experiences – that goes a long way compared to the prepared prose of pontificating politicians.

Meanwhile, the Army in Baghdad has apparently embraced You Tube, with it’s on video channel – to highlight the hard fight undertaken by our troops in Iraq. These are voyeuristic glimpses into real battlefield situations – which show a reality that conventional news may not capture.

Here’s the link:
http://www.youtube.com/MNFIRAQ

Whatever the case, against blogging or for video clips on the Internet, the Army is taking notice of the Internet as a communication tool. Clamping down on the blogs mitigates information that may be damaging to the government position. Meanwhile, “reality” clips of war from Iraq may create a greater sense of pride among viewers who can have a better understanding of our soldiers and their fight.

The British May Have A Case Of Empire Envy

Sadly, we are not the only empire to endure tragic times or bloodshed and misunderstanding. We must, however, recognize our place in the world as the prominent force.
Without doing so, we jeopardize our own future by mishandling foreign affairs.

“Remember, with great power comes great responsibility.”
- Uncle Ben, Spiderman

We must better understand the histories of previous empires – to see how we can make ours endure, we must examine what they did right and wrong. The Greeks expanding past their supply lines – Alexander took his men through Afghanistan to battle Indian battle elephants and was forced to withdraw because of logistics more than casualties. The English, a dominant force for much of the 18th and 19th centuries was defeated by Afghan tribesman on the plains north of Kabul, the desert of Maiwand and the infamous escape from Kabul to Jalabad, where only one doctor survived the slaughter of 5,000 by tribesmen with primitive firearms shooting from above in the tall canyons.
Then the Russians/Soviets who fought a war of idealism by supporting the communist student movement in the late-1970’s – which led to a 10-year war where thousands of their troops died and the eventual collapse of the Soviet Union due to over funding their military excursion and not supporting their economic development.
So now, we are forcing democracy onto an extremely illiterate population that have no concepts of Western philosophy that gave birth to our own Constitution. They raise their purple voting thumbs from under burqas for the news photographers. Meanwhile, their children play around landmines, women self- immolate – wanting death more than their miserable existence, their average life-span is 43 to 45 years old – they only live to see a few years of their new found freedoms – which is what we say.
When we build a school in a remote village, as I saw in the Tora Bora Mountains south of Jalabad in the Southern portions of Nangahar near the Pakistan border, the Taliban then target the “American-built” edifice to intimidate the locals into supporting the insurgency. Our good deed becomes a target.

“I would have been glad to have lived under my wood side, and to have kept a flock of sheep, rather than to have undertaken this government.”
- Oliver Cromwell

Still, the whining British May Have A Case Of Empire Envy. Their empire is small, old and soft now. Ours strong and finding it's way into all sorts of positions. So, their complaints may evolve from that envy. The Sun once never set on the British Empire - now they barely make it until tea time!

DARBY'S LIFE AFTER ABU GHARIB

Everyone should watch this 60 Minutes piece on the Internet about Cpl. Darby, the guy who had the courage to unveil the torture at Abu Gharib in late 2003. You’ve all heard about the scandal and the details of the late-night photo shoots with naked Iraqis. What you have not likely heard is how Darby is adjusting to life outside the Army now.

(60 minutes has a series of clips online, together they amount to an entire news story, click on them in order and try not to get discouraged by the Blackberry commercials)

He and his wife were forced to relocate from their hometown. Townspeople, even family turned against him. Here’s a guy who stood by the Army values and apparently paid a heavy price that has changed his life forever.
Some say his actions emboldened the enemy and he should have stood by his fellow soldiers. He could have never said a word. The Iraqi prisoners – so many who were innocent simply dudes caught up in the post-invasion fervor that had our occupation troops hog-tying “curfew violators,” could still be locked up in Saddam’s version of Dachau, piled up naked each night with some dumb redneck troops pointing at their nuts.
Darby did the right thing, even when no one was looking. That’s honor. His values, our values, compelled him to walk a righteous path – even if it threw the politics of war into a tailspin.

It just sucks that his life got so screwed up in the aftermath.So many of us are in a similar looking boat.

60 Minutes
http://60minutes.yahoo.com/segment/61/abu_ghraib

TALIBAN PR TEAM FUMBLES ON BEHEADING

The Taliban PR team might want to re-think some of their media output...
A reporter I know, Declan Walsh of the of the UK Guardian, wrote a story published Wednesday about a Taliban video that shows a 12-year-old sawing off some dude’s head.
Apparently UNICEF is condemning the act – so no Halloween quarters for Taliban kids this year!
Declan writes, “The baby-faced executioner kneels over the man and starts to slide the knife across his throat. Blood spurts and the cries of "Allahu Akbar" or "God is great" ring out. Then the boy triumphantly holds the severed head aloft.”The unfortunate head donor for this gory propaganda was a guy named Ghulam Nabi, a Paki who may have ratted out a Taliban commander killed in an air strike last year. The young killer says, “He’s an American spy, this is his fate.”

LINK TO GUARDIAN STORY:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/afghanistan/story/0,,2064910,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=12

The dude’s father said he was a committed Taliban fighter who has fought in Afghanistan – so I’m not so sure there is much sympathy for him. It’s the fact that such a young guy was featured killing in a video.

But this goes back to a previous discussion – the enemy has a voice, sometimes their media campaign is effective, even if this one is not. One public affairs officer I know used to always say – “The enemy has a vote.”
They have a say in what gets published in print and broadcast on TV and the Internet. Communication from the battlefield is steering much of this war – it should be at the forefront of the war-fighter’s mind.
Just last week, the Taliban made a great effort to NOT claim a bombing in Khost, because it killed many civilians - who they need for support. So many times, the local reporters in Kabul were getting satellite phone calls from the Taliban spokesman - while the U.S. military was sitting on information rather than releasing our facts.
If we don’t get our messages out – clearly, accurate and timely – the enemy can counter our efforts with their own strategic communication. They may want to return world civilizations to a primitive way – but they sure embrace modern mass communication well enough.

War fighting is a strange animal, getting stranger the deeper we get.

PIMPING OUR LEGACY TO POLITICS

Argh! Why are we hinging success in both Afghanistan and Iraq on their ability to stand up their own armies and police forces? That’s how we win, betting that they will get their acts together?
Boy, are we the ever-wishful dreamers!
Obviously, the folks who planned out “success” in this war never really interacted with Iraqis or Afghans – because this is not a safe bet.
But a friend of mine who is an Army colonel put it this way, “What the hell else can we do? Either we stand up their Army or we get stuck there for the next 50 years. And no one wants to be stuck there that long. I sure as hell don’t”
So our bet is placed, deal with it.
But now we are so bent on selling the success stories of the Afghan National Army that we have minimized our own military efforts. We go to great lengths to build them up with the international press.
In a Pentagon press conference today (April 24) Col. Martin Schweitzer, commander of the 4th Brigade, 82nd Airborne told reporters from Camp Salerno (near Khost) that the Afghans are going to lead upcoming operations.
“I'd have never imagined that four years ago when I was here, never,” Schweitzer said. “And now I'm going to be subordinate to one of the corps here in Afghanistan for a series of operations, which I think is phenomenal.”

We are pimping our legacy to conform to political goals.

The 82nd Airborne – our elite paratroopers, the nation’s knife’s edge – the famed All-American Division, America's Guard of Honor – think Normandy, Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, Kuwait, Fallujah - and of course Afghanistan.

82nd Airborne Division:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/82abn.htm

And these paratroopers who have been above and beyond the call for the past five years of war – are now ready to be under Afghan command? And that's something to be proud of?

Now, that’s not phenomenal, colonel. It sounds plain sad.

Muslims OK With Attacks, Support Al-Qaeda and Want US Out

A recent poll of Muslims suggests that many of them want America out of the Middle East and that many agree with Al-Qaeda. (Okay, let's go. Good luck to you)
The survey was conducted by Washington-based World Public Opinion and the University of Maryland. They conducted the poll in Egypt, Morocco, Pakistan and Indonesia. They did the in-home interviews with about 1,000 in each country, using the native languages. So, 74 percent want us to pull up stakes from Islamic countries. Apparently many think attacks on American troops are justified, from 91 percent of Egyptians and 69 percent of Moroccans. Of the Indonesians, 61 percent are against attacks on U.S. troops. The Pakistanis are divided 31 percent for attacks and 33 percent against.

Poll Results:
http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/home_page/346.php?nid=&id=&pnt=346&lb=hmpg1

NEWS STORY: http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN2332112320070424

All right, I’ve had enough trying to “help” the people of the Middle East and Central Asia with their so-called democracy and freedom, having my brothers in arms paying the price. Pack up boys, let move out.
We're not wanted? Attacking us is okay? Let’s just leave them to it. After all, we’ve been around their areas enough to have some detailed “target analysis” – let’s back off, let them build their “great Islamic democracy” based on outdated Sharia laws and see what happens. Inshallah, if God wills it – right? Well, good luck to ‘em.
(If things get too crazy afterward, we have the targets picked out for the Air Force to conduct surgery from the sky.)

But how can we get out now without losing face? Doesn’t it seem that withdrawal screws with our pride more than anything?

Still, Harry Reid is a punk, who doesn’t know us ass from a flak vest. He shouldn't be the one to declare the war is lost. He is the Democrats’ numb skull answer to President Bush, they are both quite uninformed about the reality of war and shoot their ignorant mouths off to TV cameras.

Sadly, with news agencies downsizing and coverage limited due to security reasons – we are not gaining a whole lot from the news about soldiers and their actual fight. That void is filled with political rhetoric from career politicians. Now, my mother doesn’t know who to believe. Amid the confusion and frustration, many Americans are either clinging to patriotic ideals and blindly supporting the war or pissed off – blaming Bush and tuning out.

So how long is this going to continue this way? What unique times we’re living in.

COMING HOME MOSTLY SUCKS

At some point, it could be months after you get home, you stop seeing bad guys on rooftops and in open windows. You’ll see your unit re-deploy into the shit without you. You'll have a lot of people say that you need to go "talk to someone."
Your toned gut will pudge up from American-style eating, making you glance twice as you pass the bathroom mirror. Suddenly, you find yourself trying to commit to an exercise regimen - for the first time in your adult life you need a reason to stay fit other than being ready for war. On that first run, you’ll barf like you did in basic training and hack up phlegm alone on the course – cursing the winter’s cigarettes and other unhealthy indulgences.
Coffee still tastes right when cold and black. American girls look amazing after seeing women covered up for so long.
Each day you long to be back in the zone, where all you had to worry about was the mission. Now, you turn lights off to save on your electric bill. Curse the damn late fees after being a day over on your credit card payment. Watch the parking official nail you for $15, you fed the meter and even went back in time – but the little bastard got you anyways.

Suffer long days - commuter traffic, suit and tie, office without windows, computer and phone.
You will work your ass off for civilians, get paid more than you did in the military - and have very little to show for it - because the bills rape you each month and you end up breaking even with nothing. Oh, and you'll stress over the bills anyways.

The people you missed so much while overseas, you never see them now that you are home anyways. Your relationships are shot, get over them. She moved on.Even if you try, it’s not going to be the same. “These crimes between us grow deeper.”

Civilians expect you to become, well, civilians. Forget the war, forget what you did. Come back and be a day-to-day slob like them, slave to the grind, pay the bills, have nothing to show and bitch about everything – numb yourself with cable television before popping a Lunesta so the stupid green butterfly can put you to sleep. Trudge off each morning to get your fix at Dunkin Donuts, muddle through 8-10 hours of work well-below your ability, pop a Cialis or Viagra to get it up after all the stress and monotony kill your very will to procreate.
And now you are officially a bitchy, whiny veteran.
But the VFW and the American Legion are not for you. You’re mostly alone. You long for your time overseas, when at least there was something to do.
So enjoy the big adventure overseas, get the most experience you can from the war – because for many of us – coming home is the beginning of the end – the long and boring road that winds to our eventual death.

Sadly, this could be one of the best retention pitches for the Army – "stay in because life really does suck!"