From today’s Washington Post commentary on the President’s Afghanistan Strategy by a variety of voices.
LtCol P Comments on the Commenters:
Ricks: As close to censure of the media’s Chosen One as we’re going to find these days. He gets a thumbs-up for throwing down some specifics, though.
Bacevich: Mexico, over Afghanistan?? Yes, they’re both silly, ignorant, backward, dangerous, unstable, and altogether pitiful, but Mexico has had (and continues to have) a fine example of responsible self-government right next door. Afghanistan does not. Therefore, Afghanistan needs a helping hand; Mexico needs a kick in the ass.
Kucinich: God help us.
Chayes: Lady, calm down. Do you need newspaper under your chair?? Although in fairness she does have a point of about civilians doing for the civil government what ETTs have been doing for the ANA. However, where are we going to get them? If I remember correctly, State Dept types were none too pleased about being sent to dangerous posts against their will.
Dorronsoro: Nice bucket of cold water.
Douglas: You have some points, but you lose them quickly. We’ll see in time if the “no quarter” threat has teeth– do you think that the administration that wants to close Gitmo and let some of those fuckers loose in the US will really go “no quarter” on Al-Qaeda? Nice try. You and Chayes should get a room.
Nagl: Good points, no heavy breathing.
Johnson: RIGHT. ON. TARGET.
Natsios: Also good analysis.
O’Sullivan: She’s on to something here. You have to isolate and protect the population, otherwise you are pissing up a rope.
I may not always agree with Sarah Chayes – heaven knows I don’t – but she has my respect: for a western woman to do the work she has done in southern Afghanistan in the Taliban heartland for as long as she has done it, when most other humanitarians have picked up and left, is a testimony to her courage and her determination.
She’s worth listening to not because she knows anything about counterinsurgency, because I doubt she knows much, but because she knows a helluva lot about southern Afghanistan and especially the mood of the people in it.