Writing in ForeignPolicy.com, Jason Dempsey argues that the United States displayed a failure of leadership in Afghanistan.

It’s an interesting article written by an experienced former US Army officer with three tours of Afghanistan but I’m not sure I agree. It seems to assume that the military must shoulder sole responsibility for delivery of US counter-insurgency strategy in Afghanistan. It also assumes that the military machine must develop capabilities beyond conventional war fighting.

Isn’t this a bit like asking a tree surgeon if he will also do a bit of heart surgery on the side?

If the General’s failed it’s because they stepped up to the plate when no-one else was willing and were saddled with a childishly optimistic counter-insurgency strategy that assumed an inter-agency, comprehensive approach that was not forthcoming.

SPIN ZHIRA: Old Man in Helmand is the unauthorised, unvarnished and irreverent story of one man’s midlife crisis on the front line of the most dangerous district in Afghanistan where the locals haven’t forgiven the British for the occupation of 1842 or for the Russian Invasion of 1979. Of course, all infidels look the same so you can’t really tell them apart.

 A JOURNEY OF LOVE, SERVICE AND ADVENTURE. EXCELLENT!

 A MODERN WARFARE LITERARY CLASSIC! OUTSTANDING READ.

 ENTERTAINING, THOUGHT-PROVOKING AND COMPULSORY TO READ.

Ten reasons why you should read SPIN ZHIRA.