Yon, Lynch, Starbuck, Spiri and Neutics
BY Herschel Smith
14 years, 2 months ago
First up in recommended reading #6 comes Michael Yon, who has been busy on his Facebook page. He sends this rather remarkable picture along.
Michael is the foremost photographer and journalist covering any war today, and it pays to make regular visits to his site and Facebook page.
Next, Tim Lynch has some very nice words for me. I sincerely appreciate the undeserved accolades. I get my tactical views from, ahem, um … one certain Marine I know. Concerning The Five Hundred Meter War, Tim observes:
I do not know the woman who was kidnapped that well but can say she was one of the more experienced and savvy operators in the eastern region. The company she works for, DAI, is one of the “big boys” in the reconstruction business and although they are not as nimble or fast as we are they are still damn good. So here we are in the middle of the surge and the security situation has never been worse. If the security situation continues to degrade it is just a matter of time before all of us reconstruction types pull up the stakes and go home. The U.S. Military is the only organization which can effect change now as it is apparent the government of Afghanistan is not going to ever be able to produce security in its present form. I think I am speaking for the outside the wire community when I say (to ISAF) ”it’s time to get off the FOB’s and into the fight….or we’re done here.”
Tim is the foremost voice among contractors, and his observations are salient and on point. One cannot find such hard hitting and accurate analysis anywhere else. His warnings are ominous and depressing, but need to be heard.
Next, Starbuck at Wings Over Iraq discusses robotic mules and whether the Marines need them, linking my discussion about the best way to ensure that the Marines become irrelevant. I still think that the best way to help the Marines with heavy loads is the way the Small Wars Manual says to do it, with mules, instead of machines that sound like a million angry Africanized bees and need battery power to work.
Next, visit Jim Spiri who is recently back from Afghanistan. Finally, visit Hermeneutics: Afghanistan for a first hand account of one Soldier’s deployment. The pictures and personal account are compelling reading.
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