Comments on: Part Two: The Tribesman in All of Us http://agora.stevenpressfield.com/2009/06/part-two-the-tribesman-in-all-of-us/ Website of author and historian, Steven Pressfield. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 20:07:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Jeremy Passmore http://agora.stevenpressfield.com/2009/06/part-two-the-tribesman-in-all-of-us/comment-page-1/#comment-1708 Jeremy Passmore Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:37:33 +0000 http://blog.stevenpressfield.com/?p=292#comment-1708 "The Taliban is not the enemy", you said, and it reminded me that in September 2001 there was talk of the Taliban arresting Osama bin Laden and putting him on trial. I thought at the time that that was the route the Americans should take. However, we are where we are. Many Britons think that our soldiers are dying without achieving anything. "It's a waste of young men's lives." (BBC Spotlight, 6 July 2009) "Why are we there? ... I can't understand this one." (Soldier's mother on BBC Radio 2 Jeremy Vine Show, 7 July 2009) Surely Britain is the last country to be militarily involved in Afghanistan (in view of Britain's "adventures" in the 19th century). But your optimistic prognosis is argument that the United States is doing the right thing. I read everything I can by you - most recently Killing Rommel. You bring History and the Present/Future together very well. “The Taliban is not the enemy”, you said, and it reminded me that in September 2001 there was talk of the Taliban arresting Osama bin Laden and putting him on trial. I thought at the time that that was the route the Americans should take.
However, we are where we are.
Many Britons think that our soldiers are dying without achieving anything.
“It’s a waste of young men’s lives.” (BBC Spotlight, 6 July 2009)
“Why are we there? … I can’t understand this one.” (Soldier’s mother on BBC Radio 2 Jeremy Vine Show, 7 July 2009)
Surely Britain is the last country to be militarily involved in Afghanistan (in view of Britain’s “adventures” in the 19th century).
But your optimistic prognosis is argument that the United States is doing the right thing.
I read everything I can by you – most recently Killing Rommel. You bring History and the Present/Future together very well.

]]> By: Blasternaz http://agora.stevenpressfield.com/2009/06/part-two-the-tribesman-in-all-of-us/comment-page-1/#comment-1707 Blasternaz Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:51:56 +0000 http://blog.stevenpressfield.com/?p=292#comment-1707 Your points are well founded and nicely expounded. Tribal covers the "gangs" well, but also delineates the professions - Doctor, lawyer, Cop, engineer. Not all warriors, to be sure, but all willing to defend their "tribe", it's actions, it's "needs" to exist, it's justifications for it's aloofness from others. You may have captured more of human nature than you think! Thanks for the insight. Blasternaz Your points are well founded and nicely expounded. Tribal covers the “gangs” well, but also delineates the professions – Doctor, lawyer, Cop, engineer. Not all warriors, to be sure, but all willing to defend their “tribe”, it’s actions, it’s “needs” to exist, it’s justifications for it’s aloofness from others. You may have captured more of human nature than you think!

Thanks for the insight.

Blasternaz

]]> By: Anonymous http://agora.stevenpressfield.com/2009/06/part-two-the-tribesman-in-all-of-us/comment-page-1/#comment-1706 Anonymous Sat, 04 Jul 2009 03:46:10 +0000 http://blog.stevenpressfield.com/?p=292#comment-1706 for me, the following blog is a very related topic, and the most powerful thing I've ever read regarding our invasion of Iraq: http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com I myself firmly believe that we should not have any troops deployed in either Afghanistan, or Iraq, and that our vision of what American national security is, and our vision of our place in the world, has to change. The reason I believe our vision has to change is that we cannot control the entire world, and by using force to try to, we create situations that are lose-lose. I believe there other ways for a nation to be prosperous, other ways for a nation to be a leader, to be powerful. Thank you for listening, and thanks for this informed blog. for me, the following blog is a very related topic, and the most powerful thing I’ve ever
read regarding our invasion of Iraq:

http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com

I myself firmly believe that we should not have any troops deployed in either Afghanistan, or Iraq, and that our vision of what American national security is, and our vision of our place in the world, has to change. The
reason I believe our vision has to change is that we cannot control the entire world, and by using force to try to, we create situations that are lose-lose. I believe there other ways for a nation to be prosperous, other ways for a nation to be a leader, to be powerful. Thank you for listening, and thanks for this informed blog.

]]> By: Jim Carrozza http://agora.stevenpressfield.com/2009/06/part-two-the-tribesman-in-all-of-us/comment-page-1/#comment-1705 Jim Carrozza Sat, 04 Jul 2009 02:43:00 +0000 http://blog.stevenpressfield.com/?p=292#comment-1705 The geography of Afghanistan is also a very pervasive factor in the formation of the tribalism that has taken hold there. There is an unwritten way in which the people have come to deal with one another. There are certain expectations of respect and hospitality, that are as old as the mountains in which they came to be. Time-honored ritual, that is recognized and appreciated and most importantly expected whenever contact is made. These rituals predate many of our own notions of how we are expected to interact. Our personnel need to be aware of the nuances in order to be effective in the region. The geography of Afghanistan is also a very pervasive factor in the formation of the tribalism that has taken hold there. There is an unwritten way in which the people have come to deal with one another. There are certain expectations of respect and hospitality, that are as old as the mountains in which they came to be. Time-honored ritual, that is recognized and appreciated and most importantly expected whenever contact is made. These rituals predate many of our own notions of how we are expected to interact. Our personnel need to be aware of the nuances in order to be effective in the region.

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