We have to assemble a coherent narrative for Afghanistan
BY Herschel Smith
14 years ago
From The Washington Post:
The Obama administration and its NATO allies will declare late this week that the war in Afghanistan has made sufficient progress to begin turning security control over to its government by spring, months before the administration’s July deadline to start withdrawing U.S. troops, according to U.S. and European officials.
Even as it announces the “transition” process, which will not immediately include troop withdrawals, NATO will also state its intention to keep combat troops in Afghanistan until 2014, a date originally set by Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
The seemingly contradictory messages, in communiques and agreements to be released at NATO’s upcoming summit in Lisbon, are intended to reassure U.S. and European audiences that the process of ending the war has begun.
At the same time, the coalition wants to signal to the Taliban – along with Afghans and regional partners who fear a coalition withdrawal, and Republicans in Congress who oppose it – that they are not leaving anytime soon.
“We have to assemble a coherent narrative . . . that everyone buys into,” said a senior administration official, one of several who discussed ongoing alliance negotiations on the condition of anonymity.
You can read the balance of the report yourself. Even as a Milblogger, I have grown weary of the strategic narrative(s) coming from Washington. I focus now on a full court press for more troops, more resources, more support, and patience. I also focus on the bravery of our men under fire. I focus mainly now on the tactical level rather than the strategic. There is nothing to cover on strategy.
Isn’t it sad to see the convolution of words, the twisting of stories, and the belief that if all they do is get the narrative right, everything else will follow? If you’re looking for leadership in this administration, you won’t find it. Instead, they are working hard to “assemble a coherent narrative.”
On November 15, 2010 at 12:16 am, sagi said:
Well, that is what the Pied Piper did, too. Or the Music Man. Or what any hypnotist basically does.
Get the narrative right, be sure the Teleprompter has been tested ahead of time, and start talking ….
On November 15, 2010 at 12:17 am, Diggs said:
Here’s a coherent narrative that’s been understood for millennia in war.
“Victory”.
On November 15, 2010 at 12:18 am, M. Simon said:
They couldn’t assemble a crackerjack toy with “no assembly required”.
On November 15, 2010 at 12:47 am, AzA said:
“assemble a coherrent narrative” equals “come up with a good excuse”.
I feel for you, Barack. I never could get my mom to buy my excuses either.
On November 15, 2010 at 12:59 am, Dray said:
Coherent? Nothing over here is coherent at the ground level, and this is where the real progress is developed, not in the halls of power back in D.C.. The Ground Truth is that we had already achieved “Victory” and we squandered it so generals and senior officers from all the conventional combatant branches (yes Mr. Smith, Marines too!) could pad their OERs with combat time. We have Naval Officers for pete sake, over here in charge of PRT and infantry units, I ask you all why?
On November 15, 2010 at 1:04 am, JAL said:
It’s the “that everyone buys into” part that got me.
On November 15, 2010 at 4:38 am, backhoe said:
It’s taken 2 years to figure this out?
On November 15, 2010 at 5:42 am, Nick Reynolds said:
I’ll take victory over narrative, that is all.
On November 15, 2010 at 7:42 am, Morton Doodslag said:
I can think of several coherent narratives: Cowardice. Treason. Betrayal.
How’s that, Mr. Hussein Obama?
On November 15, 2010 at 2:37 pm, C. Moss said:
How about: “the dog ate my policy?”