Comments on: No Narrative in Helmand Campaign

By: Last Roman

Last Roman — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 12:23:56 +0000

I take your point on explaining the narrative, but could a political leader get up there and explain in detached tone why this act was expected and a sound military tactic? Is there not a time for emotionally chrarged words, especially when the families of three soldiers watch?

I would love for every leader to be able to explain calmly why whatever is happening really isn’t ‘that big a deal’ in the greater scheme of things – but these leaders have other priorities gnawing at them, and sometimes the most useful and expedient method is emotional language.

By: Pericles

Pericles — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 11:42:25 +0000

Apologies for use of caps.

By: Pericles

Pericles — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 08:03:29 +0000

The ‘narrative’ needs to step back a bit and look at the overall problem. Such as the fact that an ANA of 400,000 men such as McChrystal proposed is financially completely unsustainable for Afghanistan itself. Moves to re-empower village militias recently suggest both recognition of this fact, AND rampant schizophrenia in Western policy. The reality is neither the ANA, ANP or village militias will keep the peace so long as there is no peace to keep, i.e. a simultaneous local and region-wide political settlement in which the Taliban take part, and one furthermore based on a REALISTIC assessment on Western public’s real level of interest in the region whenever our troops aren’t actually dying there (i.e. zero interest really). A strategy of ‘forward defence’ via LONG-TERM expeditionary warfare is now a proven conceptual failure, as haemorrhaging public support demonstrates. In and out or not at all.

By: There is no narrative for these wars | Kepkanation

There is no narrative for these wars | Kepkanation — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 20:50:36 +0000

[...] is no narrative for these wars Posted on July 16, 2010 by Jenn John Mackinlay smartly points out that the escalating violence in southern Afghanistan has been met only with chaotic, un-comforting [...]

By: Cincinattus Jr.

Cincinattus Jr. — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 19:01:04 +0000

To your points made in your final 2 paragraphs this from Michael Yon’s blog just now:

Just got a message from a British soldier. He is a veteran from heavy Afghanistan fighting. I’ve trained with his unit outside Afghanistan but now they are back in combat. A British officer once gave me a copy of this soldier’s citation for his courage under fire. The citation was impressive by an…y standard.

His email was, in part, in reference to three British soldiers just murdered by an Afghan soldier. He is from the Gurkha unit that invited me to embed again.

The soldier writes:

“Saddens me greatly that the murder of 3 of my brothers in arms may over shadow all the good work and progress that is being made. I know you have many reservations about the campaign but it is winnable and that narrative needs to be shouted about but is in danger of being drowned out. For every rogue ANA there are thousands of brave warriors who share risks who share risks day in and day out.”

This soldier, again in the thick of combat, writes the truth.

By: Ed

Ed — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 10:27:45 +0000

In addition, it would help enormously if our political leaders were able to show, in a completely lucid fashion, how this sacrifice translates directly to achieving a safer and more harmoniously integrated UK population.

CYNICISM ENGAGED.

And as soon as they get the word from Washington on what line to take, they will.