Thank you for having these guests. I don't know anything compared to you folks, but I have heard so very much about the corruption in Afghanistan; is that overblown? How can we work with a kleptocracy? Which is how Karzai's government has been described. (I know Karzai is not likely to resurface...) Do you think this is deeply rooted in their culture, or that an honest (relatively) government-in-exile could be stood up as an alternative to the foul Taliban? In other words, I suppose, do you have in mind a clear mission description for this creation of an alternative government?
Great episode. I really appreciate the points made about putting more pressure on Pakistan and deleveraging their land corridor by threatening to either do an air corridor sans-permission (sounds logistically difficult though from a gross weight and volume of flights perspective) or by going through Baluchistan (more realistic and more threatening to the Pak government than the airlift option I think).
That said, I can't help but think back on the core message of David Kilcullen's first book "The Accidental Gorilla" with respect to the Afghan cultural default to resist any invader/occupier and I'm not sure we can pin a lot of the issues in Afghanistan on Pakistan (some share of it yes, but the bulk of it?). Yes Pakistan sheltered the Taliban and yes they produced a large swath of fighters that were injected into Afghanistan, but particularly in places like the Pech River Valley in the east (Kunar Prov, Nuristan Prov, Wanat, Korengal, etc.) and Helmand province in the south (Marjah, Sangin, etc.) I don't know that those places would have been easier to pacify even if Pakistani support had been cut off. Am I wrong there with respect to the local component to the Afghan insurgency and that natural cultural tendency toward resistance to invaders/occupiers in the rural parts of the hot spots out there?
Thank you for having these guests. I don't know anything compared to you folks, but I have heard so very much about the corruption in Afghanistan; is that overblown? How can we work with a kleptocracy? Which is how Karzai's government has been described. (I know Karzai is not likely to resurface...) Do you think this is deeply rooted in their culture, or that an honest (relatively) government-in-exile could be stood up as an alternative to the foul Taliban? In other words, I suppose, do you have in mind a clear mission description for this creation of an alternative government?
This is an excellent podcast, I learned a lot. Thanks for translating and drawing the connecting dots for us. Such impressive guests.
Great episode. I really appreciate the points made about putting more pressure on Pakistan and deleveraging their land corridor by threatening to either do an air corridor sans-permission (sounds logistically difficult though from a gross weight and volume of flights perspective) or by going through Baluchistan (more realistic and more threatening to the Pak government than the airlift option I think).
That said, I can't help but think back on the core message of David Kilcullen's first book "The Accidental Gorilla" with respect to the Afghan cultural default to resist any invader/occupier and I'm not sure we can pin a lot of the issues in Afghanistan on Pakistan (some share of it yes, but the bulk of it?). Yes Pakistan sheltered the Taliban and yes they produced a large swath of fighters that were injected into Afghanistan, but particularly in places like the Pech River Valley in the east (Kunar Prov, Nuristan Prov, Wanat, Korengal, etc.) and Helmand province in the south (Marjah, Sangin, etc.) I don't know that those places would have been easier to pacify even if Pakistani support had been cut off. Am I wrong there with respect to the local component to the Afghan insurgency and that natural cultural tendency toward resistance to invaders/occupiers in the rural parts of the hot spots out there?
Such an informative podcast. These two go back to the beginning. Good to hear their perspective. You do have connections! Loved the song. Good job.