This article in @WarOnTheRocks contains my thoughts on the @washingtonpost #Afghanistan Papers. Some of you won’t like this, so before the trolls come out, a few comments on the article in this thread. 1/n warontherocks.com/2019/12/there-…
1. I’m not gaslighting the Post’s reporting. It was good investigative work for them to ID & then legally obtain these documents. I am, however, disputing their conclusions which I don’t believe are accurate or supported by their material. 2/n
2. I’m also not saying the war in #Afghanistan hasn’t been highly problematic. It has, in so many ways—poor strategic/policy formulation, stovepiped implementation, & ineffective self-assessment are just a few. These are *systemic* issues that deserve *serious* attention. 3/n
3. But they don’t constitute a “war on the truth.” Hyperbolic reporting to that effect only serves to obscure these systemic issues—which are *very very* serious & need to be studied analytically in depth if we’re to try & fix them. 4/n
4. This is what the @SIGARHQ lessons learned program—the *only one* in the USG focused on #Afghanistan—was trying to do. The Post’s report—combined w/the IG’s (Sopko’s) comments—will effectively neuter that program going forward. 5/n
5. Meaning that, once the current news cycle fades, there will be *no* comprehensive efforts left in the USG to learn from #Afghanistan. I sincerely hope #DOD or #Congress will take meaningful steps to remedy this. 6/n
6. The sensationalist nature of the Post’s report has also clearly upset a lot of people w/#Afghanistan war experience. I sincerely hope those who need/want/could use help are able to get it. My DMs are open if I can assist. 7/n
7. There’s little in the substance of the Post’s reporting that is new. A primary reason US officials have been able to continually (& problematically) self-assess progress in #Afghanistan is the lack of interest/outrage from Americans & their elected reps in Congress. 8/n
8. Which is to say, if you’re older than about 35 & *just now* getting upset about #Afghanistan, your concerns are noted but frankly far too late to be helpful. You had your chance to affect the war & you let it go by. Sorry. 9/n
9. To close, we have *real probs* today w/our ability to formulate, execute & assess war policy. It may be cathartic to castigate senior officials, but the problems run deeper than a few former four stars. Fixating on them won’t fix this. 10/n
10. We need a *really honest* period of introspection on #Afghanistan. Unfortunately, the Post articles are not that, and going forward, neither will be @SIGARHQ’s lessons learned program. 11/11
