Comments on: An Exchange Between Soldiers

By: Reference: One Tribe at a Time by Steven Pressfield « Public Intelligence Blog

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:01:12 +0000

[...] One Tribe At A Time #5: An Exchange Between Soldiers [...]

By: Anonymous's Mother

Anonymous's Mother — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:40:37 +0000

Thank you to all who stood up for Anonymous. I have met some of you at departures and homecomings. I send you boxes wherever you travel. Dave, you remind us that all of those in our military have defended our right to freedom of speech. Even though I vehemently disagree with you, I taught Anynomous and her sibling that we don’t always need to agree with everyone, but we should always strive to accept everyone. Your judgment of her and her accomplishments is not based on facts. You do seem to have some hidden anti-female agendas. I don’t know your circumstances, but I feel sorry for anyone with that much anger in their heart. I pray for all of you daily. Sincerely, Anonymous’s Mother

By: Jim Gant

Jim Gant — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:10:28 +0000

Stephen,

Thank you very much for your post!

I will definately check this out…

I appreciate your time!

STRENGTH AND HONOR

Jim

By: Stephen H. Franke

Stephen H. Franke — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:05:20 +0000

For Major Gant,

Greetings. Good book.

Since you’re apparently in pre-deployment prep before you go wheels up to advisory duty in Iraq, you might register with the site (URL below) to download and do some self-training with the free (***only*** to persons with a “.mil” e-mail account) program called “Tactical Iraqi” [aka TI] Arabic language and culture training system.

URL is:

TI is loaded with useful scenario, cultural info [albeit only about Iraqi Arabs, minus Iraq's Kurds, Turkmen, Assyrian/Chaldean Christians et al] , operational advice, and vocabulary related to “advise & assist” tasks (and lesser so) “train & equip matters and do/don’t do in meeting and dealing with Arabic-speaking Iraqis. TI is a techie-enhanced interactive video game in the category of “serious games” used for training and education.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Stephen H. Franke
San Pedro, California

By: Bryan Groves

Bryan Groves — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:15:54 +0000

Jim,
I served with Anonymous for a year and I know she is a quality officer who can pull a 220 pound man to safety. Gender asside, my reading of One Tribe at a Time is that brains are far more important than brawn. You mentioned in your article support from higher echelons for TET ops, to include support from Civil Affairs. How can Civil Affairs best enable your strategy? Also, I would like to hear about your experiences with non-governmental organizations in Afghanistan. I note from recent polling that Afghans placed more confidence in their own government, ANA, and ANP than in international NGOs, but it seems that much of our interagency, CA, and NATO CIMIC doctrine stressess the importance of NGOs to stability in Afghanistan. What have you seen?

By: Jason

Jason — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:01:44 +0000

It’s very beautiful to see the tribes getting along with the soldiers. Those are some nice pictures that have been taken.

By: Jim Gant

Jim Gant — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:44:17 +0000

Sir,

STRENGTH AND HONOR

Jim Gant

By: Guy

Guy — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:05:05 +0000

Dave,

We in Special Forces understand our operational environment and always endeavor to personify the “Quiet Professional.” You have either forgotten this or, more likely, are not SF. Your remarks were misogynistic, naïve, and are in no way indicative of the men I have known in SF (for 30 years now). You owe the anonymous soldier an apology.

MAJ Gant, my compliments on your paper. I will make it required reading for our SF warrant officers students. Well done.

De Oppresso Libre

Guy Griffaw, USAJFKSWCS

By: Keith

Keith — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:15:05 +0000

Dave:

Your comments are a clear indication that breeding and class passed you by. To imply that there is no place for women in this ongoing battle is a confirmation that you either suffer from severe cognative imparement or simply choose to remain ignorant. As a member of the SF community, I fully support the addition of women to portions of our mission (TET’s). They bring a unique skillset and ability to the party that continues to reap rewards. While agree that there should be no expectation that women will be actively engaged in select direct action activities, there is a place for them as interpreters, collectors and general rapport building activities.

Hats off to Major Gant for his fine work. As for you, Dave, perhaps you should crawl back under the rock from where you came from.

By: Thorny

Thorny — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:09:36 +0000

Dave,
Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but your lack of situational awareness is astounding. ‘Anonymous’ is held in extremely high regard by a significant number of people in places and organizations that would surprise you. As you are no doubt aware, your reputation will follow you wherever you go. ‘Anonymous’ has a reputation as a true warrior and a teammate who can be counted on. I have personally had the honor and privilege of serving with her in two theaters. You are in the process of tearing down your own reputation with your ill-chosen words. To make such comments without having any knowledge of the person you are talking about immediately calls your own judgment into question. To those who have served with her, ‘Anonymous’ has more than proven her worth.