Bill Huey, Strategic Communications, Atlanta (4/12):
Does this mean we're losing? Ten years is a mighty long time to have that many troops in combat mode, and it's time for a top-to-bottom review of our strategy (or lack of one) and the overall strategic importance of Afghanistan.
We made a huge mistake when we didn't melt the place down in 2001, and now we seem caught in Einstein's definition of insanity.
Veep (4/12):
I apprecite the need help what must be thin public affairs ranks, but is this necessary when things are supposedly "winding down?" Does anyone believe we're pulling out of here?
Wes Pedersen (4/12):
We have lost this war. We have some victories, but overall, al Qaeda and the Taliban are holding their own, and waiting until we move out at last...then the land we have bought and paid for in so many ways becomes theirs. Imagine how frustrating this is for the men and women of our armed forces still fighting there...and coming home to find that Americans in general have all but forgotten their sacrifices. As you pay your taxes this year, remember where your money is going.
PR Guru (4/12):
Spending money on any form of PR for Afghanistan is a throwing it away.
Joe Honick, GMA International Ltd (4/12):
I do not understand the need to "sell" this or any other war if the President of the United States and all his minions with public information budgets cannot persuade us and the world to the rightness of the conflict and our involvement.
Screamers in the Congress claiming to be pro-life seem not to be conflicted with our destruction of life in the Middle East with no apparent indication of why it is in our national interest. So, now, comes another multi-million dollar squander because the American public apparently needs a sales job a la the old "Tin Men" and using most of the same PR flackery who collected hundreds of millions from the last administration.
How do I explain this rationally to my grandchildren and to college classes I am privileged to meet with from time to time? And, again, boringly, what the hell is that $250 million PI operation at Fort Meade doing if it cannot do the job taxpayers paid for?
Wes Pedersen (4/12):
Joe, you have mentioned a $250 million PR school" at Fort Meade, Md., before. The school is the Defense Information School; its emphasis is on training GIs for public affairs and PR duties around the world. It is part of a broad service installation that serves many divisions of the armed forces. Fort Meade has taken on yet another important task: as headquarters for the Defense Cyber Command,created to provide leadership and training in the cyber war that is coming.
You can get more information directly from Fort Meade. Lots on the computer. Check out the backgrounds of some of the soldiers, etc., who have attended the Defense Information School at Fort Meade. You will that many of them have served all over the globe in public affairs/PR positions.
Joe Honick, GMA International Ltd (4/13):
Thanks, Wes, and I pretty much understood this operation at Ft Meade where I used to hang out in my miitary days for a bit. My real point is that we spend far too much money on flackery from private PR operations to sell wars and other political involvements even as other elements of the government are selling the same stuff. No knock on the GI's, but it is still part of an expensive situation that needs review. Thanks again.
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