"IT'S THE TRIBES, STUPID" VIDEO BLOG

June 8, 2009, I posted the first two of five video op-ed pieces on the subject of tribalism in Afghanistan, U.S. troop involvement, and the nature of the enemy. I didn't do it for any financial gain—didn't have a book being released or a tour. I just wanted this information to get out there, the way one might write an op-ed piece and submit it to a newspaper, except via video instead.

The thesis of the videos is that the enemy in Afghanistan (and Pakistan and Iraq) is being mischaracterized as "militant Islamist," "jihadist," "terrorist," etc., when the single quality that most defines our foes is tribalism and the tribal mind-set.

Since the videos' release, some have argued that this focus on tribalism isn't valid, because there aren't tribes throughout. However, if you look at our own country, there isn't one type of grouping of people throughout it either. Every region is different. The same holds true in Afghanistan. And if we don't understand the tribes and their mind-sets, how will we work with them?

KILLING ROMMEL DOCUMENTARY VIDEOS

With the release of Killing Rommel, a 10-minute documentary was produced about the Desert Fox himself. It is also available in 3-minute and 30-second versions.