Could the Remedy be Worse Than the Cure?
Keeping an Open Mind
Howdy,
I just offered on a house, and I’m excited. New chapter. New possibilities. I’m happy to be back home—Texas. It’s where I’m from, and I’ve missed it terribly the last 20 years.
Anyway, I had a lot of comments, emails, and other reactions to my article today on firing the generals. Here is the unpleasant truth: we have no idea what’s going to happen. Who will be great, or who will be a disaster. Who knows who will get through or get fired in the first month. No matter who you voted for, I’m sure there are some people that might raise your alarm.
There are some picks that I don’t like. Others I think are fine. And a few, should be opposed. For the most part, I’ve adopted a wait and see approach.
Also, just because the headline says, “Fire the Generals,” doesn’t mean that I don’t think a lot of Senior Executive Service (SES=General Office equivalent) or some politicians need to be held accountable. I do!
But voters hold the politicians accountable. Or they don’t. They’ve rendered a verdict on President Biden, and his entire failed presidency. Joe Biden will make Jimmy Carter seem like a lion upon my death bed. I’ll put $50 bucks on that one.
At the end of the day, you can’t worry about things outside your control. Like I wrote at the beginning of the campaign season, I don’t care who you vote for. Seriously. Don’t care. I don’t roll that way. Too many of my dear friends and relatives voted for Trump for various reasons: transgenderism, forever wars, inflation, Afghanistan, immigration, and everything in between.
The voters delivered a political earthquake to America. It’s not a landslide. But it is an earthquake. So, Trump has the right to nominate anyone he wants as long as they are constitutionally qualified.
Like I also said when I wrote about Trump. Whatever happens. I know I’ll be fine. I’m well armed, well trained, and can survive on my own for quite a while.
Everyone else?
No idea.
Good luck, America.
The Bi-Weekly Wrap
I’m sorry I forgot to do the weekly wrap last week. I was in DC hanging with
(the GOAT) and a few other characters. All right, let’s get this party started.Podcasts
Not that it mattered, but
and I explained why we supported Harris/Walz. I don’t regret my vote one bit. But I’m also ready to move on—Kate K, not so much, so you should be getting a more vocal opposition from my BFF. And I’m here for it!
Season 2 will begin at the beginning of December. We’ve already filmed a few episodes with some great guests. Can’t wait!
We also had a great Voice of the Resistance podcast last week too.
Ambassador Daudzai is smart and provides some insightful thoughts on Afghanistan’s future.
Question: should we have three podcasts? We currently have Shoulder to Shoulder and Stories From My Brothers: Stories from My Brothers. However, I’m thinking of launching a third, Voices of the Resistance, which would simply end it being a series in Stories From My Brothers.
Thoughts?
Articles
My last article before the election went pretty hard at President Donald Trump. And I stand by it.
That’s what honor means to me. But I also have to emulate that in all aspects of life. I cannot vote for a man who regularly dishonors soldiers. How could I explain that to my daughter when she’s 18?
“Well, I liked his Middle East foreign policy better.”
“I wanted to punish Harris for her conduct in Afghanistan.”
All those urges and desires remain present. However, I could never vote for a man I wouldn’t trust with the welfare of my little princess general. Not just because of his rhetoric but because he’s a sexual predator.
That’s not a real man, ladies and gentlemen. That’s a scoundrel.
My immediate response to the election was full of sunshine, and asked an important question: the End of Never Trump?
I’ll still be Never Trump in most things. But if he does things I like, I will tell you why. Democrats need to understand why people don’t want their particular brand of politics. I’ll try to explain it to you through my eyes, a man who lives in deep-red Texas.
I wrote a short ode to my BFF,
.My BFF, Kate Kovarovic, was nominated for a March of Dimes Heroine of Washington Award for her work helping Afghan women, providing mental health support to case managers, and doing her job right here at GCV.
We’re all so proud of her and grateful to serve alongside her.
And, of course, the article I referenced above.
I’m proud of my service, especially in Iraq and Afghanistan. I had the honor of commanding at two levels. Serving alongside American servicemembers is one of G*d’s gifts. From talking about girls in the back of a Humvee to helping a jittery Airman nail a brief, my favorite time in the military was with the troops.
I loved being in the military and fighting the wars—I really did. Nothing ever felt so right as being downrange. Living with the Pashtuns in Kandahar taught me so much about life. My two years in Kabul were a delight, even though they were infuriating.
Even after two lost wars and the abandonment of our Afghan allies, I wouldn’t change it for the world. I love the United States military—warts and all.
And that’s why the next Secretary of Defense, be it Pete Hegseth or anyone else, should clean house in the Department of Defense and throughout America’s Intelligence Community (IC).
Over on Will’s War Stories, I also wrote a rallying cry on the day of the election. I’ll take things that didn’t happen for a $1,000, Alex.
Whatever you may feel about Trump, we must also respect the will of the voters, even though he doesn’t. However, it does not mean the fight is over.
It’s just begun. Don’t confuse losing a battle with losing a war. Sometimes, people get that stuff mixed up. It’s one election, and there are more anti-Trump Americans than MAGA. It will be very challenging, and I fear for our stability here and overseas.
But should we lose the day, take a knee for a few days, then get your asses back up and rejoin the battle against Trumpism.
It’s a worthy cause, and Trumpism will eventually be ushered into the ash heap of history.
Helai is in the United States and wrote her first article.
I met the kindest sister in the world, my beloved, Kate Kovarovic and some other kind friends who love me and are always there for me!
Oh, I am so lucky to have the realest friends in this world. Thank you so much to all of you!
I love you all to the moon and back!
Boom!
returned after a short respite. She’s our longest serving contributor for a reason people: she wrote two great articles!
I love my brother and am so proud of him, but I worry about the parts of our culture that might fade as he grows up speaking two languages, celebrating different holidays, and living in two worlds.
Remember, I promised to tell you more about what my sister Taiba is all about? Here we go! I’m so excited to tell you about Her Craft! It’s a project that my sister Taiba dreamed about. Her Craft is all about helping Afghan girls get a chance to learn, build skills, and earn money by making beautiful handmade crafts. Just think about it: each craft is made with love and tells a story of hope and strength.
Other Publications
It’s always great to go on
’s podcast, the Afghanistan Project Podcast.I also wrote a little something, something over at
. As always, thanks to for incredible edits.The country has rarely been more divided, nor our public life more acrimonious. For those looking for a way to “bind up the nation’s wounds,” start by caring “for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and orphan.” Let’s reestablish trust by keeping our word to our veterans. We don’t just owe it to those who served and their families; we owe it to ourselves as a country.
Recommendations
’s father, Colonel Abdul Rahman Rahmani, who has written for us before, has started his own Substack, . Stop what you’re doing right now and go check it out.
No. I’m serious.
I am writing this to share a part of my life that has been quietly, but deeply, shaping me for many years. I am Abdul Rahman Rahmani, a former Afghan Special Forces Helicopter Pilot. I have trained in the U.S. at Fort Rucker, Alabama, where I learned the craft of flying in one of the finest military programs. I went on to graduate from the Marine Corps Expeditionary Warfare School and the National Defense University in Washington, D.C., where some of the highest leaders in the United States also study. Today, I am a McCain Global Leader, which is an honor that reminds me of the journey I have been on.
I am sharing all of this, not to show off my accomplishments, but because I need to explain why I want to join the U.S. Air Force. From the outside, it might seem like I have achieved many things that others dream of. But for me, something feels unfinished. When Afghanistan fell to the Taliban, I lost not only my uniform and my army, but also a piece of my heart. I lost my country, but I did not lose hope. Hope has been my guide, helping me imagine a new beginning—with a new military, a new flag, and a new sense of purpose.
Also go check out Andrew Fox’s Substack. Andrew is a former British Army Officer and a recent senior lecture at the Royal Military Academy. Not only that he’s wicked smart.
So if “defeat Russia” is the end game, then we have one of two options: arm the Ukrainians more, and bring in Western air power to end the stalemate and give Ukraine an actual chance at winning.
Or, accept we created an unachievable aim and force both sides to the negotiating table, with all the ramifications for future Russian military threat, subversion of our societies, interference in our elections, assassinations on our soil, etc.
I support the former alongside a robust reminder about Mutually Assured Destruction, but we are now at the point where decisions need to be made: otherwise this strategic drift will just lead to thousands more people dying in vain, as Russia will win the battle of “who has the most people”. And I will not morally accept that the West is simply maintaining a war of attrition, waiting for Russia to collapse economically at some unknown point in the near future - that is a disgusting game to play with Ukrainian lives, and said Russian economic collapse is by no means a given.
NATO faces a choice: arm Ukraine properly, or get both sides to stop, and then face the continuing threat that is a toxic and expansionist Russian foreign policy.
“Support Ukraine unwaveringly”, Macron and Starmer? Ok. Prove it. Ukrainian blood is going to be on their hands if they do not
This is basically my position too.
Aggies vs. New Mexico State
The Aggies got embarrassed against the University of South Carolina. But somehow we’re still tied for first in the SEC. I don’t get it. But I’m an old. Nevertheless, after a bi-week in which our defense hopefully learned how to tackle again, we’re back against New Mexico State University. I’ve seen us lose games like this before. Yep. I remember Applachaine State.
It’s Aggie football. Nothing is for granted.
Pray for us.
I hope all of you enjoy your weekend. Please spend it with your families.
Until next time!
Too many podcasts becomes Confusing is my opinion, when one person on all of them
The notoriously fickle American Electorate has voted for T. Rump - it is what it is. I qualified on the range with M1 Carbine and .45 Automatic Pistol during abbreviated Basic Training at Warner Robbins AFB in 1965 as a Civil Air Patrol cadet headed for the Air Force under General LeMay and my loyalty remains to the Constitution of the United States - not to any political party and certainly not to any politician. This is likely to change as T. Rump intends to replace the current officer corps with compliant personnel who will do whatever he commands. How the military decides will likely determine whether the United States continues to have national security protected by a capable defense establishment - or not. In our case I hope we will not witness our National Guard deployed against disloyal (to the new administration) American citizens - we shall see if Kent State will be repeated. We live in interesting times.