Trust

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Let me preface my remarks with the sadness I feel for the Afghan families and people who were the victims of the tragic and senseless murder by a United States soldier. You were harmed first by this heinous act and the consequences will harm the rest of the world.

This is about trust. I go to bed at night trusting my military and police to protect me. While sometimes they run afoul of their missions, I am still secure in my knowledge that they will protect me and I would never fear being near my military, police or those of our close allies.

But the Afghan people don’t have my lifetime experience with trustworthy forces.We have only been there a decade and prior to that they were subject to brutal rule by the Taliban and a savage war with the Soviet Union. During those times it was common for simple people to be dragged from their beds and tortured or worse. There was no possibility for trust and so how could anyone rest assured they were safe?

After a decade of building trust at the local level with the Afghans, one individual has demonstrated that we can be as savage as our predecessors. In America we would view this as an aberration, and our faith in our military and police would be secure. How do we convince the Afghans that they can feel that way as well?

This responsibility begins with General John R. Allen, a man and Marine whose shoulders seem unbreakable. Nearly every day he wakes up to a new kick in the gut and yet he embraces each challenge fearlessly while many jeer and denigrate him. Most of these screaming naysayers ( my favorite retired Gunny has a more colorful name for them) have never taken a risk or embraced a challenge, but they have plenty of one sided solutions. They are the ones with no fortitude, a skewed moral compass, no belief that freedom is worth their risk and sacrifice. Although they are happy to live free with the sacrifice of others.

My coalition troops, from 50 different countries, will have to redouble their efforts to reinforce the belief that the locals can trust them. General Mattis, General Allen, UK Lieutenant General Adrian J Bradshaw, French Lieutenant General Olivier de Bavinchove, Turkish Brigadier General Levent Gözkaya, and many more will have to carry the burden to convince the Afghan people they can trust the Coalition. Don’t know who these people are? You should, they are some of the Warriors willing to sacrifice so our world can be free. It’s a thankless job, and thank God someone wants it!

Go here NATO ISAF Leadership to find about the men I mentioned. Read their bios and get to know them. They are the less and a half a percent of the world who is willing to risk it all for us.

How can you help? Donate to Spirit of America where they actively assist our troops in supporting the Afghani people.

Islands of the Damned: A Marine at War in the Pacific by RV Burgin

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I wrote this review back in May 2010 before my site got hacked.  I found a copy of it on a backup drive so I’m posting this again.  This book is now on The Commandant’s Reading List.

The very real events of Islands of the Damned took place over sixty-five years ago yet it is a timely book relevant to today’s war. The chilling effects of hand to hand combat on the individual have not changed in millennia, and as we prosecute our global war on terror it would be wise for us to become aware of the exacting toll it takes on those who fight our wars. Islands of the Damned will charge you with the deeply emotional demands of men faced with killing the enemy in defense of our country.

You will come to understand why unnecessary battles end up being fought and the physical and mental tolls of such battles. From the joys of watching porpoises and flying fish frolic in the wake of the ships carrying our Marines to the war, to the heartbreak of friendly fire causalities, you will learn how ordinary men can step up and perform extraordinarily valiant acts or make tragic mistakes that have lifelong consequences.

Historically this is a different view of the battles of New Britain, Peleliu and Okinawa than the traditionally accepted texts. R.V. Burgin will broaden your mind of what happened during these world changing battles. As the ranks of our World War II veterans grow thinner by the day, these first-hand accounts of front line events become more precious.

Read Islands of the Damned and personally connect with the feelings and expectations of regular guys off the farms and streets who were forced into war to by an enemy who breached the rules of combat and employed terrorist tactics long before September 11, 2001.

Blindsided and Still Keeping Faith

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Commander of American Central Command, Gen. James Mattis called on Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States Sherry Rehman to discuss matters of mutual interest to both countries.

Real leaders understand and consider the ramifications of their actions, they also play for the team.

So if you read this site, and followed my old blog, you know I’ve been tracking my United States Marine Corps since 2004. For eight years I have seen them get blindsided time after time and yet they do their jobs undeterred by political treachery and mendacious journalism. How lucky can a nation get?

My blood has been boiling ever since articles regarding the Pakistani response to Congressman Dana Rohrabacher’s resolution concerning Baluchistan started showing up in my Google alerts. Not much has been published in U.S. papers, but everyone in Asia seems to have an opinion and inside Pakistan there has been a huge negative outcry.

Don’t get me wrong, the kinds of human rights violations happening in Baluchistan is an issue that trumps national sovereignty so I have no problems with the resolution itself. The timing of the presentation is the problem.

Since November 26, 2011 when NATO forces accidentally, and tragically bombed the Salala checkpoint causing the death of many innocent Pakistanis, my Fave (General Mattis, Commander of CENTCOM) and others have been working to repair the damage. US – Pakistani relations have fallen to a new low, and like it or not, we need to have good relations with the Paks.

On February 1st, General Mattis met with Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Sherry Rehman, in a precursive meeting laying the groundwork for him to visit Islamabad in mid-month to begin repairing our relations.

But before mid-month arrived Congressman Dana Rohrabacher’s Foreign Affairs Sub-Committee on Oversight and Investigations hearing and subsequent resolution regarding Baluchistan so inflamed the population of Pakistan that General Mattis’ meeting was put on hold. My Fave was in the Middle East meeting with the leaders of Bahrain, Egypt and Turkey with the expectation of meeting with Pakistani leaders that same week. But thanks to Rohrabacher, no joy!

I’m not sure what Congressman Rohrabacher’s impetus was for his timing. But we have a State Department and sitting President whose leadership should be respected, even if you don’t agree with them.

In observing the the behavior of our politicians and military while we’ve been at war since 9/11, I have become convinced that the majority of trustworthy American leaders are in our military. Their primary motivation in life is securing our country and freedom rather than pursuing money and power, thus their careers are anchored in noble actions.

Our military educates our service members in leadership and then constantly reinforces those qualities throughout one’s career. Most serve our country and then quietly cycle back into civilian life.

Congressmen and senators have a duty to represent: they are supposed to voice the wishes of their respective populations to Washington D.C. and make sure the laws of the country reflect the needs of the people. To ensure that our diverse population is represented in kind, there are only age, residency and citizenship requirements for the job. Someone not born of this country who is only 25 years old can be elected to a Congress whose actions have global ramifications.

However, you often see the word “leader” associated with their names. Leaders require training and qualification, senators and congressmen have no such requirements.

In Rohrabacher’s case he’s been in politics his whole life, leading few things or anyone. The same can be said for the odious John Murtha, who mishandled the incident at Haditha so he could cause trouble for the Bush administration. He certainly didn’t have due process or justice in mind with his bombastic behavior.  That mess, by-the-way, also got dropped in my Fave’s lap and he handled it professionally while following the law.

The failure of our elected officials to work cooperatively and act in the best interests of our nation is getting very old. Making matters worse, politicians can do pretty much as they please while our military must follow the orders of their civilian controllers.

Yet General Mattis, and every other military leader whom our politicians often jerk around like a dog on chain still believe in the greatness of our nation and way of life, so they get up every day and do their jobs for us.

I’m celebrating the fact that my military takes excellent care of our country and affords us the freedom to do things by returning to college (at age 59) and studying anthropology. I do it without the fear that the Taliban, or someone else, will hunt me down and kill me simply for being educated. . . Oh yea, who said that? You know that thing about fighting for women’s rights . . . “you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn’t wear a veil. You know, guys like that ain’t got no manhood left . . .”  That’s my Fave, he believes women’s rights are worth fighting for. Yowza! How lucky can a nation get?

 

…………………..

Photo credits :Embassy of Pakistan

Enduring Global Relationships

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What can a Mad Dog do that a President can’t?

Each year the U.S. military holds several joint exercises with other countries. In fact Bold Alligator and Cobra Gold have just wrapped up. These two exercises included the militaries of the UK, Canada, France, Australia, the Netherlands, the Kingdom of Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and the Republic of Korea.

Much more than meets the eye happens during these joint operations. Obviously as our militaries coordinate and execute the exercises together the operations between separate entities become smoother and more controlled, thus enabling complex joint operations that result in fewer mistakes should we ever have to fight as a team – for real.

Behind the scenes something less obvious but of great importance happens, personal relationships form. Now then, I watch a lot of briefings by the commanders of our Unified Combatant Commands; CENTCOM, PACOM, AFRICOM, SOUTHCOM, NORTHCOM, and EUCOM. In almost every briefing these commanders speak of relationships with other militaries and their leaders. Not the ephemeral connections generated between politicians, but of decades old relationships forged in joint training exercises between the United States and our allies.

Last year during the Arab Spring when Egypt erupted and Mubarak cut communications leaving no contact with the Egyptian body politic, General James N. “Mad Dog” Mattis was able to pick up the phone and call the Commander of the Egyptian military. The relationship allowing such intimacy was forged through decades of joint exercises between Egypt and the United States.

If you take the time to watch and listen, you will hear Admiral Willard, Commander of PACOM, General Ham, Commander of AFRICOM, and Brigadier General Christopher Owens and Rear Admiral Kevin Scott talk about the importance of these relationships.

Presidents can stay in office no longer than eight years, “Mad Dogs” and much of our military personnel stay for decades.

 
******Photo Credits******
Royal Thai Marine Rear Admiral Nivet Budsri, left, Commander of Royal Thai Marine Division, shakes hands with U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Craig C. Crenshaw, right, Commanding General, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, before the start of the dedication ceremony for the training facility in Hat Yao, Kingdom of Thailand, Feb. 9, 2012. Royal Thai Marines and U.S. Navy Seabee’s built the training facility in support of Cobra Gold 2012. CG 12 improves the capability to plan and conduct combined joint operations, building relationships between partnering nations and improving interoperability across the Asia-Pacific Region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jessica Olivas)

A Plea to My Favorite Four Star General

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This is about your biography . . .someone will write it.

Steven Pressfield wrote that upon your retirement you plan to go home, hike the high country, stay out of politics, and not write your memoirs. In a speech at the American Veterans Center Conference in November of 2011 you indicated that you would like to teach civics to young folks and pass on the lessons you have learned through four decades of military service.

Oh I wish the errant few of our military’s general officers who practice measured indiscretion of the confidences expected of them by our country’s leaders had your strength of character, your moral courage,  and your devotion to protecting freedom.

Now then, there will be many wanting to write your biography. Shouldn’t you have a hand in that? You’ve had colorful moments and enormous challenges in your career, and there’s a lot of latitude for misinterpretation of your intent and decision processes. I believe telling people about those processes does not need to violate any trust or privilege expected of you by our leaders.

A proper biography of you written by an evocative and responsible author fosters honor, courage and commitment in all who read it.  It will steward freedom for humanity in the same way that your life has. It will carry on after your death and be a positive influence for generations. With a proper biography you will teach long after your death and continue messing with tyrants for millennia.

 

Image credits : U.S. Marine Corps Gen. James N. Mattis, Commander, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), answers questions from members of the Combined Joint Interagency Task Force (CJIATF) 435, Dec. 25, 2011, Camp Phoenix, Kabul, Afghanistan. Mattis visited with members of CJIATF 435 for the holiday season. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Amanda Dick)

Iran and Our 2012 Presidential Candidates

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Do you suppose our presidential candidates have the slightest clue about what’s going on in Iran? Do they know the kinds of danger the country poses, and more importantly the situations inside the country that could lend it to being toppled without firing a shot?

Even President Obama may rattle the saber of war against Iran just so he can get re-elected. Very scary and reminiscent of what many people accused President Bush of doing with Iraq.

Here are some facts about Iran taken from a speech given on Nov 1, 2011 by General James N. Mattis who commands CENTCOM. It’s his business to know what’s going on in Iran and he states clearly that his job is to to prevent war.

  • They have no strategic ally.
  • They can’t win the hearts and minds of their own people.
  • They have messed up their own economy.
  • UN sanctions are actually working.
  • The nuclear centrifuges are turning.

Before you get distracted by “the nuclear centrifuges are turning,” consider something from journalist Neil MacFarquhar’s highly informative book The Media Relations Department of Hizbollah Wishes You a Happy Birthday.

“They crave normalcy, but despair at not knowing how to attain it in the face of oppression that brings at least jail terms and even death to anyone trying to organize dissenters. One of the great failures of American Diplomacy in the Middle East has been Washington’s inability to harness that frustration.” . . . and . . .

“. . .it seemed the U.S. might garner more sympathy with the population and at the same time weaken the harsh ways of so many Mideast despots by making a show of their incompetence. That was definitely one characteristic common to them all. Iran, Saudi Arabia, Libya and certainly Egypt were not run very well, . . .”

In fact you can watch a video of Neil MacFarquhar talking to Mehdi Karroubi, former Chairman of Iran’s Parliament and reformer who is interested in a dialogue with the United States. Shortly after this video interview took place the Iranians increased the security on Karroubi and I don’t believe he’s been heard from since. But there are other reformers like him inside of Iran. Consider that it is possible that we could help them create a generally peaceful revolution and let them cease power.

Will our presidential candidates espouse war with Iran rather than seeking a peaceful solution, and do we really want a president who would embroil us in another war we probably don’t need to start?

I say NO!

Resources:
1. General Mattis addresses the Tri-Cities Rotary, Nov. 1, 2011.
2. Internet Role in Covering Iran – Neil MacFarquhar, United Nations Reporter.
3. Map of Iran from CNN.
4. The Media Relations Department of Hizbollah Wishes You a Happy Birthday by Neil MacFarquhar.

This War – It’s Not About Islam

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My office is in a building with many attorneys and it’s a quiet place so I usually work with my door open. The flags and Marines that adorn my wall are clearly visible from the hallway and everyone who passes gets the message that I am engaged in some manner with the military and that I love my country. Some people mistake my support of my Marines as a sort of personal bloodlust. It always surprises me when people draw that conclusion.

Not too long ago one of the attorney’s stopped me at the elevator, he was coming and I was going. He was proud to tell me that he had a new bumper sticker that he was sure I’d like.  All it said was “American Infidel.” It made me sad to think that a man with an advanced education could so concisely tell me how little he knew about the war we have been fighting since September 11, 2001.

This war is not now, nor has it ever been about Islam. It is about tyranny. The same thing foisted upon Europe by Hitler, imposed upon the Soviet Union by Stalin, and has been, throughout the history of humanity, forced on civilizations at the hands of evil, ruthless, thugs masquerading as leaders. They always find a vehicle to advance their brand of horror. Currently Islam has been hijacked by these thugs and leveraged to promote as much fear as possible. They know enough Westerners will fall for their feint to generate contempt from the Muslim world and thus align many followers of Islam against us. In the parlance of my Marines, our need to blame Islam for this war is a force multiplier for the enemy.

This war is about defeating a foe who seeks to control humanity and through tyranny deny the rights of freedom loving peoples. It’s that simple. Blame (on Islam) is a tool they employ to trick us into alienating our allies so we have to fight alone.

By the way, my Favorite Four Star (General James N. Mattis, USMC) includes in many of his speeches the fact that more Muslims have died in this war than the total number of coalition troops.

. . .

Related reading:  The New KGB by Corson and Crowley. Published in 1985 it chronicles the tyranny of the KGB and it’s precursors from the early 20th century through the Cold War. You don’t have to read the whole thing, just a few chapters will horrify you. I picked it up to learn about Corson because one of my fictional characters is a Marine intelligence officer. Lord what an eye opener this book was!

Victory Point by Ed Darack

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Victory Point will sweep you into the arcane world of Afghanistan’s beautiful yet austere Hindu Kush Mountains, a place ruled by a mix of ancient tribalism and Islam. This recounting of two historic military operations in the ongoing war against terror is written with the riveting passion usually found in first class works of fiction.

You will experience fear, laugh at jarhead humor, cry for our lost warriors, and cheer for grunts, Warthogs, and amazing feats of flying by Shock Army and Dustoff aviators. Exhausted from hiking nearly vertical terrain in 120 degree temperatures while carrying 130 pounds of gear each, the grunts of the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines crushed a ruthless Islamic fundamentalist. This is the true story of men whose resolve to win surpassed the most punishing environment imaginable and an evil enemy who had all the advantages.

Read the entire book and let Ed Darack educate you. From the first forays into the seemingly impassable Hindu Kush Mountains by Alexander the Great in 330 BC to the Soviets of the 1980’s, the peoples of this region have been invaded time after time experiencing some of the most gruesome and widespread acts of inhumanity in history.

Your gut will churn as you read about the widow and her child who were doused in gasoline and burnt alive by the Soviets, and your heart will soar with pride as one Marine enlists the help of Americans back home to build and supply a girl’s school.

Victory Point is the real story of our military and how this war is being fought. It tells about the mistakes, the chance happenings, the value of human intelligence, the plans that get pushed aside making operations more dangerous, and the gut feelings that turn out to be true. You will learn why Marines persevere when all others fail.

A personal note: I am biased towards these Marines. It was early June 2005 when I browsed the list of units in Afghanistan on AnySoldier.com. I selected three units of the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines to support and immediately started writing weekly letters and sending bi-weekly care packages to the three units. During the several months that I supported these Marines I received nearly thirty letters from them; some written just after returning from the very missions chronicled in this engaging book. At the time I didn’t realize how treacherous their missions had been.