Part 46 (2/2)
16 Literally, ”State.” Literally, ”State.”
17 Camel spiders, like spiders, are members of the cla.s.s Arachnida, but they're of a different order, Solifugae. Camel spiders, like spiders, are members of the cla.s.s Arachnida, but they're of a different order, Solifugae.
18 The Waygal Valley in Nuristan. The Waygal Valley in Nuristan.
19 From the acronym DShK, for ”Degtyaryova Shpagina Krupnokaliberny”-named after its creators, Vasily Alekseyevich Degtyaryov and Georgi Shpagin. From the acronym DShK, for ”Degtyaryova Shpagina Krupnokaliberny”-named after its creators, Vasily Alekseyevich Degtyaryov and Georgi Shpagin. Krupnokaliberny Krupnokaliberny translates as ”large-caliber.” translates as ”large-caliber.” Dushka Dushka means ”sweetie” in Russian. means ”sweetie” in Russian.
20 Some intelligence a.n.a.lysts read such ”possibly Chechen” labels as meaning, more accurately, ”light-skinned persons whose language we can't identify.” Some intelligence a.n.a.lysts read such ”possibly Chechen” labels as meaning, more accurately, ”light-skinned persons whose language we can't identify.”
21 No relation to Major Richard Timmons. No relation to Major Richard Timmons.
22 A Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, a very large transport aircraft used by the military. A Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, a very large transport aircraft used by the military.
23 The National Risk and Vulnerability a.s.sessment 2005 The National Risk and Vulnerability a.s.sessment 2005, published by the Afghan Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development and the Central Statistics Office.
24 Ibid. Ibid.
25 First developed in the USSR, AKs are gas-operated, selective-fire a.s.sault rifles, said to be the most widely used weapons in the world. First developed in the USSR, AKs are gas-operated, selective-fire a.s.sault rifles, said to be the most widely used weapons in the world.
26 Matthew Cole attended this shura and wrote about it in an influential Matthew Cole attended this shura and wrote about it in an influential Salon.com story ent.i.tled ”Watching Afghanistan Fall” (February 2007). The dialogue here is taken from that story. story ent.i.tled ”Watching Afghanistan Fall” (February 2007). The dialogue here is taken from that story.
27 The valley in which the outpost was located was actually named Nichingal, but few Americans knew that or referred to it that way. For simplicity's sake, this book will call it the Kamdesh Valley. The valley in which the outpost was located was actually named Nichingal, but few Americans knew that or referred to it that way. For simplicity's sake, this book will call it the Kamdesh Valley.
28 Steven Pressfield, Steven Pressfield, The Afghan Campaign The Afghan Campaign (New York: Broadway Books, 2006). Excerpt copyright 2006 Steven Pressfield, used with permission of the author. (New York: Broadway Books, 2006). Excerpt copyright 2006 Steven Pressfield, used with permission of the author.
29 Tahkim Tahkim means to ”reinforce” or ”strengthen,” and means to ”reinforce” or ”strengthen,” and sulh sulh means ”peace.” means ”peace.”
30 PTS originally had nothing to do with the United States, but in some ways, the Americans tried to co-opt this co-opting scheme. They figured if the bad guys were reintegrated through a program in which they played some role, their intel collectors could interview them and obtain useful information. This made perfect sense to the Americans, though from the perspective of the Afghan government, it was not the way PTS was supposed to work. PTS originally had nothing to do with the United States, but in some ways, the Americans tried to co-opt this co-opting scheme. They figured if the bad guys were reintegrated through a program in which they played some role, their intel collectors could interview them and obtain useful information. This made perfect sense to the Americans, though from the perspective of the Afghan government, it was not the way PTS was supposed to work.
31 U.S. Combined Forces Command Afghanistan had by that point handed over all operational responsibilities to NATO/ISAF and would soon be deactivated. U.S. Combined Forces Command Afghanistan had by that point handed over all operational responsibilities to NATO/ISAF and would soon be deactivated.
32 No relation to Master Sergeant Terry Best. No relation to Master Sergeant Terry Best.
33 A POG is a ”person other than grunt.” A POG is a ”person other than grunt.”
34 Legion Company belonged to the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry, and had been ”attached” to 1-91 Cav. Jacob Lowell had been a member of Legion Company. Legion Company belonged to the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry, and had been ”attached” to 1-91 Cav. Jacob Lowell had been a member of Legion Company.
35 A 2011 study of aid projects in Afghanistan would conclude that though the root causes of unrest and conflict in Afghanistan were often political, international stabilization projects ”tended to lay more emphasis on socio-economic rather than political drivers of conflict, and therefore primarily focused on addressing issues such as unemployment, illiteracy, lack of social services, and inadequate infrastructure such as roads. As a result, aid projects were often not addressing the main sources of conflict, and in some cases fueled conflict by distributing resources that rival groups then fought over” (Paul Fishstein and Andrew Wilder, A 2011 study of aid projects in Afghanistan would conclude that though the root causes of unrest and conflict in Afghanistan were often political, international stabilization projects ”tended to lay more emphasis on socio-economic rather than political drivers of conflict, and therefore primarily focused on addressing issues such as unemployment, illiteracy, lack of social services, and inadequate infrastructure such as roads. As a result, aid projects were often not addressing the main sources of conflict, and in some cases fueled conflict by distributing resources that rival groups then fought over” (Paul Fishstein and Andrew Wilder, Winning Hearts and Minds? Examining the Relations.h.i.+p between Aid and Security in Afghanistan, Winning Hearts and Minds? Examining the Relations.h.i.+p between Aid and Security in Afghanistan, Tufts University, 2011). Tufts University, 2011).
36 p.r.o.nounced ”FRITCH-ee.” p.r.o.nounced ”FRITCH-ee.”
37 According to Richard Strand, the Kom have a reputation for being ”wild and crazy” and often make bets involving outlandish behavior. One Kamdes.h.i.+ friend of Strand's was well known for betting he could climb up a log ladder with a heavy tripod-used to hold large stone pots over a fire-hooked over his erect p.e.n.i.s. ”He did so and insured his place in local lore forever,” Strand says. According to Richard Strand, the Kom have a reputation for being ”wild and crazy” and often make bets involving outlandish behavior. One Kamdes.h.i.+ friend of Strand's was well known for betting he could climb up a log ladder with a heavy tripod-used to hold large stone pots over a fire-hooked over his erect p.e.n.i.s. ”He did so and insured his place in local lore forever,” Strand says.
38 Baird had suffered nerve damage to, and a loss of mobility in, his right arm but was able to remain in the military. Sultan had lost an eye and was subsequently discharged. Baird had suffered nerve damage to, and a loss of mobility in, his right arm but was able to remain in the military. Sultan had lost an eye and was subsequently discharged.
39 ”Kinetic” operations are combat operations. ”Kinetic” operations are combat operations.
40 Sebastian Junger's excellent book Sebastian Junger's excellent book WAR WAR and doc.u.mentary film and doc.u.mentary film Restrepo: One Platoon, One Valley, One Year, Restrepo: One Platoon, One Valley, One Year, which he shot with the late Tim Hetherington, provide captivating looks at fourteen months in the Korangal with one platoon from the 173rd Airborne during this period. which he shot with the late Tim Hetherington, provide captivating looks at fourteen months in the Korangal with one platoon from the 173rd Airborne during this period.
41 Specifically, Shabbaz moved east toward Bazgal. One late afternoon a few weeks later, a Predator drone detected a group of enemy fighters near the road west of the Bazgal Bridge, heading toward a cave. Kolenda gave permission to fire, and the Predator launched a missile from eighteen thousand feet. Shabbaz, severely wounded, never bothered anyone again. Specifically, Shabbaz moved east toward Bazgal. One late afternoon a few weeks later, a Predator drone detected a group of enemy fighters near the road west of the Bazgal Bridge, heading toward a cave. Kolenda gave permission to fire, and the Predator launched a missile from eighteen thousand feet. Shabbaz, severely wounded, never bothered anyone again.
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