I had a dream.
I saw satan swimming slowly, languorously, smiling,
wafting down a river of blood.
More and more as he spread his blood drenched arms
across each bank, people murdered themselves
and murdered their neighbors.
Their blood poured out filling the river deeper and deeper,
and satan patiently, willfully, joyfully
screeched a hideous cry of encouragement.
The unwitting souls on the riverbank, stood
with their eyes firmly fixed on the heavens
spoke the name of God,
then committed self-murder,
and satans fingers, dripping blood, dragged their souls
into his hell bound torrent.
Occasionally a bright beam of truth
would shine upon one of the souls on the riverbank
and they would simply walk away.
And satan thrashed and screamed each time
as another soul escaped his grip.

Through Grace Peace

I find it interesting you don’t address the substance of my remarks, but rather my “qualifications” to make them. Apparently thoughtful, critical analysis is now the realm of amateurs? I don’t get it. Similarly, being on the ground is useful, but only to a certain extent — as my analyses of of Western reporting from the area hopefully indicates, being there in person gives one little real advantage in terms of accurately gauging the true state of the country, at least on the random, week-long jaunts most reporters take.

On the other hand, I have the confidence in my own arguments to have them associated with my name. You should try it — taking responsibility for what you say is a remarkable experience.

Just kidding! Anyway, Anonymous, I think that Josh’s critique of policy is just that – a critique. He’s not saying he has the best answers, but there’s nothing wrong with holding an educated opinion. There are certainly degrees of education! Just as Josh always makes way before comments from regional experts, returned military personnel, and others that have spent a decent amount of time in the region.

As for the sneer, I assure you that’s just his style.

Anyway, Registanға Кош Келдіңіз! Hope you continue to read and comment. I’ll be putting up some more Kazakhstan-related articles soon – and some reviews. I wonder what Nathan’s cooking up…

Just kidding! Anyway, Anonymous, I think that Josh’s critique of policy is just that – a critique. He’s not saying he has the best answers, but there’s nothing wrong with holding an educated opinion. There are certainly degrees of education! Just as Josh always makes way before comments from regional experts, returned military personnel, and others that have spent a decent amount of time in the region.

As for the sneer, I assure you that’s just his style.

Anyway, Registanға Кош Келдіңіздер! Hope you continue to read and comment. I’ll be putting up some more Kazakhstan-related articles soon – and some reviews. I wonder what Nathan’s cooking up…

I’ve been reading your stuff for a while, and have concluded that you are in pretty far over your head.

You spend way too much of your time playing grad school “parse-the-argument-and-more-importantly-the-argumentation” games, and way too little of your time actually observing the region at first hand.

Consequently, your posts affect a predictably pretty-thoughtful, highly-critical, grad-studentish “sneer’, but offer little in the way of practical advice, or even any original personal observations from Afghanistan.

This is a shame, because you seem like a sharp kid.

You spend way too much of your time playing grad school “parse-the-argument-and-more-importantly-the-argumentation” games, and way too little of your time actually observing the region at first hand.

Consequently, your posts affect a predictably pretty-thoughtful, highly-critical, grad-studentish “sneer’, but offer little in the way of practical advice, or even any original personal observations from Afghanistan.

This is a shame, because you seem like a sharp kid.