Comments on: The Cost of Risk Aversion

By: John Ryan

John Ryan — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 02:11:58 +0000

Obama’s dithering ??? we had Bush dithering away for 8 years. We have now spent the equiviliant of 20 grand on each and every Afghani. And the “expense” of internet that sure sounded foolish: 2 or 4 k per month is a drop in the bucket to what we are already paying you(plural)

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 16:58:19 +0000

Merry Christmas Tim and company. Here is to a kick ass year of blogging. -matt

By: VDK

VDK — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:17:45 +0000

“There was never a need for the elaborate security which was foisted upon the reconstruction efforts by our Department of State when we started the reconstruction programs years ago. There is now as we have fed the insurgency by failing to deliver meaningful aid while supporting GIRoA officials who prey upon the people they are supposed to serve. The Afghans see us riding around in armored vehicles with truck loads of gunmen fore and aft and wonder what the hell it is we think we are accomplishing. I can’t blame them as I wonder the same thing myself.”

Experience, insight, wisdom: It’s all there. And very quote-worthy.

Do the “Team Canada” members have the same views on the Canadian mission in Kandahar? (appropriately substituting “Department of State”, of course).

cheers

By: UnderMiner

UnderMiner — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 05:06:38 +0000

I thought it was Angel off the Rockford Files?

You guys play safe!
See ya soon.

By: Tim from Panjwayi

Tim from Panjwayi — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 02:26:46 +0000

FACTA NON VERBA

This ain’t rocket surgery brother – let’s get’er done.

We don’t need Robocop over here, we need Andy Griffith.

- Tim from Mayberry

By: Prestwick

Prestwick — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:11:46 +0000

For the record, Adam Holloway was a former Officer in the Grenedier Guards and is a very streetwise guy with experience of counter insurgency work in Ulster.

By: dennis

dennis — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 04:42:51 +0000

well i wish you and the boss an team Canada,all the luck.the boss sure picket a dry spot. i did fine at one time there was some ANP. tomarrow should be a hoot. stay safe.

By: David M

David M — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:52:41 +0000

The Thunder Run has linked to this post in the blog post From the Front: 11/30/2009 News and Personal dispatches from the front and the home front.

By: Desert Sailor

Desert Sailor — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:34:34 +0000

Great synopsis Tim. I too share your thought process as well as your passion…with an equally non-optimistic view of Tuesday’s speech.

Watch out for unicorns!!

By: jwest

jwest — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 20:28:04 +0000

1. If you weren’t on Ms. Napolitano’s list with the rest of us aging veterans, you’re probably on it now.
2. There is more to the aversion for risk (war) than the financial aspect.
3. The combination of the sheer bloodiness of the civil war (US) followed by the unnecessary intervention during WW I caused a middle class antipathy toward FDR’s anglophilic support leading into WWII.
4. An organization called America First had wide and deep membership and sympathy.
5. America First instantly disappeared after Pearl Harbor.
6. A photograph of 3 dead soldiers on a beach in New Guinea was published in February of 1943. The outcry following that was so great that no further photographs of American war dead were allowed publication during the conflict.
7. Would submit that aversion to warfare has strong roots in areas other than financial in the US.
8. Our elitist leadership is, once again, making decisions on a basis that they know better than the hoi polloi.
9. The cynicism and disparagement expressed by the middle class is ignored, again.
10. We clutch our bibles and guns in flyover country. We no longer offend Mr. Reid’s nose because of the visitor center that keeps us apart from his august presence.
11. We all mine history to suit our purposes.
12. Personally thought a lot of our Southwest Asian intervention had to do with maintaining the balance of power in the region.
13. To me, that is a euphemism for supporting the Saudi Monarchy -which I don’t give a rat’s ass about.
14. Your writings underscore our force’s inability to operate effectively in Afghanistan.
15. Am unconvinced of the utility of acquiring that capability, much less the possibility of doing so.
16. As with Iraq, say let others with more to gain shoulder the load.
17. If I thought we had the political and national will to stay the course, would feel differently.
18. Wish I needed a good accountant. Hope you do.
V/R JWest