Just came accross this entry through a tweet -- ve...

2009-09-09T23:35:04.289+03:00

Just came accross this entry through a tweet -- very interesting to me. I am also a military officer (currently Reserve), also blog and have second thoughts about it, and also absolutely respect and believe in what Greg Mortensen is doing. I am currently trying to decide whether to join a Civil Affairs unit to Afghanistan. The more I learn the more I think that even in Civil Affairs, I will not be able to do what I think the military should be doing: Greg Mortensen-type stuff (living with the people, wearing local clothes, eating local food, figuring out how we can best help them, building schools and bridges and centers for women to meet and work together, etc.) I fear that I will be incredibly frustrated at having my hands tied if I go as a Civil Affairs officer. I'd be under an infantry officer's command... Who knows what missions I'd end up having to go on.
So... is there a role for the military in the 3-cups-of-tea approach to "fighting terrorism"? One thing that struck me in his book is that he turned down millions of dollars, so as to not be associated with the military. If that's the case, is there anything that we can do, or should we all just go home?
Would love to hear your thoughts.

Comments on Building Peace: On Yesterday's Post

Just came accross this entry through a tweet -- ve...