Comments on: Maybe We’re Not Winning in Khost http://registan.net/index.php/2008/09/22/maybe-were-not-winning-in-khost/ Central Asia News -- All Central Asia, All The Time Sun, 12 Feb 2012 23:53:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Péter http://registan.net/index.php/2008/09/22/maybe-were-not-winning-in-khost/comment-page-1/#comment-378489 Péter Tue, 23 Sep 2008 12:48:44 +0000 http://www.registan.net/index.php/2008/09/22/maybe-were-not-winning-in-khost/#comment-378489 I find it funny how this point is always made, as it is, in this case by Johnson and Mason, that if the occupation becomes too visible, "Afghans" will surely revolt. I mean, imagine : the local elder goes up to the ANA soldier in front of the compound housing a "forward team," and says, "You better keep that Afghan flag flying above that compound, young fellow Afghan, or we villagers will RPG it... also we'd better not see any of the Americans inside poke their head out too much... but you know, if they stay inside and the flag is flying, that's fine with us..." Truly amazing thinking to assume this. Is it really difficult to get for some that, depending on which side of which local conflict one is on, one might even wear a shalwar kamiz with stars and stripes on it, proverbially speaking? Or do only "Afghans" understand this? I find it funny how this point is always made, as it is, in this case by Johnson and Mason, that if the occupation becomes too visible, “Afghans” will surely revolt.

I mean, imagine : the local elder goes up to the ANA soldier in front of the compound housing a “forward team,” and says, “You better keep that Afghan flag flying above that compound, young fellow Afghan, or we villagers will RPG it… also we’d better not see any of the Americans inside poke their head out too much… but you know, if they stay inside and the flag is flying, that’s fine with us…”

Truly amazing thinking to assume this.

Is it really difficult to get for some that, depending on which side of which local conflict one is on, one might even wear a shalwar kamiz with stars and stripes on it, proverbially speaking? Or do only “Afghans” understand this?

]]> By: steve http://registan.net/index.php/2008/09/22/maybe-were-not-winning-in-khost/comment-page-1/#comment-378479 steve Tue, 23 Sep 2008 02:31:02 +0000 http://www.registan.net/index.php/2008/09/22/maybe-were-not-winning-in-khost/#comment-378479 Put this in a letter and mail it to The Atlantic. Maybe they'll excerpt some of it on their Letters page. Put this in a letter and mail it to The Atlantic. Maybe they’ll excerpt some of it on their Letters page.

]]>