Comments on: The Serena Bombing, Up Close, And Where We Go From Here http://registan.net/index.php/2008/01/16/the-serena-bombing-up-close-and-where-we-go-from-here/ All Central Asia, All The Time Fri, 25 May 2012 20:24:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Joshua Foust http://registan.net/index.php/2008/01/16/the-serena-bombing-up-close-and-where-we-go-from-here/comment-page-1/#comment-376148 Joshua Foust Fri, 18 Jan 2008 00:24:35 +0000 http://www.registan.net/index.php/2008/01/16/the-serena-bombing-up-close-and-where-we-go-from-here/#comment-376148 Inkan, luckily Nasser's account has gotten a ton of attention at several very high profile blogs. But the psychological impact, as you state, cannot be quite so easily dispersed. This was devastating to an international community that, at least in Kabul, enjoyed a certain degree of invincibility—in so small part because the suicide bombs have normally been limited to attacks on the military and police. Laurence, I think I've linked to it before. If not, I'll have to dig it up, see if I have a PDF or something. It was really little more than a literature review of how counternarcotics was interacting with security and reconstruction, with a small section tacked on the end discussing ways forward. Inkan, luckily Nasser’s account has gotten a ton of attention at several very high profile blogs. But the psychological impact, as you state, cannot be quite so easily dispersed. This was devastating to an international community that, at least in Kabul, enjoyed a certain degree of invincibility—in so small part because the suicide bombs have normally been limited to attacks on the military and police.

Laurence, I think I’ve linked to it before. If not, I’ll have to dig it up, see if I have a PDF or something. It was really little more than a literature review of how counternarcotics was interacting with security and reconstruction, with a small section tacked on the end discussing ways forward.

]]> By: Laurence http://registan.net/index.php/2008/01/16/the-serena-bombing-up-close-and-where-we-go-from-here/comment-page-1/#comment-376147 Laurence Thu, 17 Jan 2008 21:56:18 +0000 http://www.registan.net/index.php/2008/01/16/the-serena-bombing-up-close-and-where-we-go-from-here/#comment-376147 Josh, Thanks for the interesting post. BTW: Have you ever posted your senior thesis on Registan? Maybe you could put a reminder link up, if you did--or post it now, if you didn't. Your thesis sounds compelling... Josh, Thanks for the interesting post.

BTW: Have you ever posted your senior thesis on Registan? Maybe you could put a reminder link up, if you did–or post it now, if you didn’t.

Your thesis sounds compelling…

]]> By: Inkan1969 http://registan.net/index.php/2008/01/16/the-serena-bombing-up-close-and-where-we-go-from-here/comment-page-1/#comment-376145 Inkan1969 Thu, 17 Jan 2008 15:33:38 +0000 http://www.registan.net/index.php/2008/01/16/the-serena-bombing-up-close-and-where-we-go-from-here/#comment-376145 I am very thankful for Naser Shahalemi's account of the attack. I have not really found any other first person account of the event. Not even any press photographs of the damage to the Serena. Perhaps someone should e-mail the New York Times or BBC News or the U.S. networks about Naser's blog entry, so that they can give his information some attention. (I'd e-mail my local TV station about the blog entry if I thought they cared.) Indeed, this attack is a psychological victory for the Taliban. It's similar to your description of the raid on Arghandab; they did this to show that they CAN. I can only hope that this catastrophe further stings the Bush administration into realizing that Afghanistan NEEDS more attention and a rethink of strategy. I am very thankful for Naser Shahalemi’s account of the attack. I have not really found any other first person account of the event. Not even any press photographs of the damage to the Serena. Perhaps someone should e-mail the New York Times or BBC News or the U.S. networks about Naser’s blog entry, so that they can give his information some attention. (I’d e-mail my local TV station about the blog entry if I thought they cared.)

Indeed, this attack is a psychological victory for the Taliban. It’s similar to your description of the raid on Arghandab; they did this to show that they CAN. I can only hope that this catastrophe further stings the Bush administration into realizing that Afghanistan NEEDS more attention and a rethink of strategy.

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