thanks for linking to Tim Lynch’s post.

I got a bit different take on it than you, however. While he certainly trashed Filkin’s rosy perspective, alot of what Tim had to say very much confirms and corroborates what Major Gant has been writing about and even supports Filkin’s view that the Locals have the ability to dictate to the taliban what projects they support and ensure that the project moves forward without taliban interference. I think Tim may have read a little too much into Filkin’s report of SF’s guys coptering into tribal areas with “flour and ammunition.” Tim paints this as a useless gesture but IF (and I stress “if”) this is part of the relationship-building approach described by Maj. Gant–i.e., initial gifts of honor to Local leaders, then there may be value in it afterall.

Clearly Tim is an expert at what he sees as stupidity by the military in blindly backing the GOA, even where it comes to opposing militias like Zazai’s which are doing critical work, but if the military is at least starting to figure out that the Locals are key to winning, then we have to support that.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/20/AR2009112002617.html

Tim over at Free Range International had some interesting things to say about Filkin’s article. Not very pretty either, and the picture Tim paints is a little different. I highly recommend folks check it out, to get a little bit more of a realistic perspective.
And for Steve, the title of this post is ‘The Tribes’, something that you would probably be interested in. Tim is also a Marine, and good people. Check it out. S/F -Matt
http://freerangeinternational.com/blog/?p=2394

This war is an act of creation. Nation building. As you know, any creative act is challenged by an overwhelming force of Resistance. — The War Of Art.

Unlike writing a book, Nation Building is a group project. Epic. Massive. It follows that the forces of Resistance will be equally epic, massive, and overwhelming. Individuals conquer Resistance through sheer force of will. How do massive groups, of divided individuals, conquer Resistance?

We have no leader in this war. No passion. No ambition. No one to force success through sheer force of will. Everyone wants to win. No one wants to put in the work. The time. The money. We have no leader in this war.

Our liberal president is trying to solve the problem, intellectually. To out-think Resistance. But he is an amateur. He is a wannabe king. He does not have the will to fight. His circus friends do not have the will to fight. 99% of America does not have the will to fight. We have the will to complain, to protest, but not the will to prevail.

You two are singing songs of dreams that will never be.
Unless you can find a way to awaken a hero.