The Elusive Reality of Afghanistan
Now, after more than a decade of accomplishing astonishingly little, Western military leaders are working hard on polishing the narrative for their war in Afghanistan. It’s unclear who they plan…
afghanistan
Dead (or dead)
Although pains were taken to hide the identity of the SEAL Team Six officer who took part in last year’s raid that killed Osama Bin Laden, his true name was…
Not Like We Weren’t Warned
“When planning a military expedition into Pashtun tribal areas, the first thing you must plan is your retreat. All expeditions into this area sooner or later end in retreat under…
More Green on Blue
“Green on Blue” has become the term for Afghan security officials – police or army – turning on and gunning down Western forces in their country. The latest incident cost…
Canadian General Itching For A New Foreign War
In The Twilight War, historian David Crist unravels “the secret history of America’s 30-year conflict with Iran.” A secret conflict that’s looks certain to become a real war soon. Led…
Canadian General Itching For A New Foreign War
In The Twilight War, historian David Crist unravels “the secret history of America’s 30-year conflict with Iran.” A secret conflict that’s looks certain to become a real war soon. Led…
Act of Valor, Redux
“Before my father died, he said the worst thing about growing old was that other men stop seeing you as dangerous….Dangerousness was sacred.” Last night I watched Act of Valor.…
Afghan Cop Squad Defects to the Taliban
An Afhgan police commander and 13 of his officers have joined the Taliban. The commander apparently poisoned 7-officers who refused to defect. The party fled taking heavy weapons, radios and…
When We Leave Afghanistan, We Leave It to Monsters
The guys we’re leaving in charge in Afghanistan are liberally peppered with butchers and mass-murderers. An 800-page report from the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission lists some 180-mass graves and…
Not Now, Not Yet
Canada’s military brass seem intent on blundering their way, make that their soldiers’ way, back into combat without first explaining what went so wrong with their performance in Afghanistan. Make…
Why Omar Khadr’s psychology does not matter
This post is a quick update to my previous post ‘Why Omar Khadr still matters‘ in response to a CBC article that contrasts the views of two psychologists who studied…
Why Omar Khadr still matters
A decade after a wounded Omar Khadr, a then fifteen year old Canadian citizen, decided to lob a fatal grenade in the middle of a firefight in Afghanistan, Ottawa is…
In Our Allies’ Eyes, Canada Failed in Kandahar
For many years I have argued that Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan were betrayed by dismal political and military leadership in Ottawa and a mass media too inept to recognize the…
Canada’s First Failed War
The generals who conned our political leaders into signing on to an unwinnable war talk of “success” in Afghanistan but they’re blowing smoke, trying to cover the stench of the…
Canada’s military: soldiers or psychopaths?
Canada’s Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Walt Natynczyk Photo: Jake Wright, The Canadian Press This interview with Canada’s Chief of Defence Staff says more about the psychopathology of militarism than…
Caribou over Afghanistan
Your eyes are not playing tricks on you. That’s a DHC-4 Caribou, known to Americans as a C-7, upgraded with turboprops. They are indeed 50 years old, but they still…
In Afghanistan you risk your life to sing – The ROM displays photos by Larry Towell, Donovan Wylie and "Afghan Star"
Those interested in the reality of Afghanistan and located in Toronto can take in the photographic works of Larry Towell and Donovan Wylie at the ROM along with a showing…
Pentagon Post-Mortem on Iraq & Afghan Wars – We F__ked Up
Afghan Army Soldiers One way of knowing for sure that America has lost a war is when the Pentagon begins navel-gazing. That’s exactly what the US military is doing now…
Is This a Game Changer for America in South Asia?
The latest American air strike blunder in Afghanistan could mark a major shift in US military operations in south Asia. The bombing, against a home the military believed was housing…
"We depend heavily on the discretion being exercised"
MacKay defends drone attacks, says technology reduces civilian causalities Canada defended the use of military drone attacks Sunday, saying technological advances have reduced the likelihood of civilian casualties. Unmanned systems…