Matthew Hoh and Daniel Ellsberg Discuss the Need for a Drawdown in Afghanistan

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Matthew Hoh and Daniel Ellsberg Discuss the Need for a Drawdown in Afghanistan
By: Derrick Crowe Thursday November 19, 2009 3:00 pm	Tweet

I’m convinced that when we look back on the key events on the road out of Afghanistan, we’ll mark Matthew Hoh’s resignation as one of the milestones. Hoh’s resignation letter is a devastating four-page indictment of the misguided U.S. policy in that country, and his experience in Anbar, Iraq gave his views heft in the debate about whether an Iraq-style "surge" provided a template for "success" in Afghanistan. Do yourself a favor: if you haven’t yet read the letter, do so.

Matthew Hoh recently sat down with Daniel Ellsberg for a Brave New Conversation, the trailer for which you can see above. I’ll interview Hoh later this week to get his thoughts on the way forward in Afghanistan and the reaction to his resignation. For now, though, enjoy the conversation.

Note: Derrick Crowe is the Afghanistan blog fellow for Brave New Foundation / The Seminal.

8 Comments Recommend

8 Responses to Matthew Hoh and Daniel Ellsberg Discuss the Need for a Drawdown in Afghanistan

Jim White November 19th, 2009 at 5:48 am «

I look forward to your interview with Hoh.
Leen November 19th, 2009 at 9:25 am «

thanks for this
acquarius74 November 19th, 2009 at 11:45 am «

Recommended. Thank you, Derrick. Matthew Hoh’s statement about the Karzai government being totally dependent on US is exactly what Ray McGovern explains in this video about the surge in Iraq; the Bush administration was advised of that same dependency and it has happened. Only yesterday Gen’l. Odierno announced that the drawdown in Iraq may be delayed if further bombings occur.

The subject of the clip is Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates who was once under the supervision of Ray McGovern (who gave Gates an unsatisfactory performance appraisal). …now Gates is in charge in Afghanistan, is faced with the same scenario and doesn’t know what to do. [so he blows his temper...time for him to go, IMHO.]
ART45 November 19th, 2009 at 3:23 pm «

I don’t need these two guys.

Get the troops out NOW.

Obama is a fucking idiot to continue military action in Afghanistan.

Phoenix Woman November 20th, 2009 at 7:42 am «

Two words: Chosin Reservoir.

We don’t want a fighting retreat. We have to make sure we have enough local Talibs on our side before we start pulling out, or it gets very bloody, very quickly, for both sides.

thatvisionthing November 19th, 2009 at 10:51 pm «

I think Obama should put Lt. Ehren Watada in charge of Afghanistan. There’s a guy who recognizes an illegal war and war crimes when he sees it and has the sense to say No.

Also, another excellent article on Afghanistan that I’d recommend is Chris Hedges’ Afghanistan’s Sham Army:

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20091109_afghanistans_sham_army/

“What good are a quarter-million well-trained Afghan troops to a nation slipping into famine?” the officer asked. “What purpose does a strong military serve with a corrupt and inept government in place? What hope do we have for peace if the best jobs for the Afghans involve working for the military? What is the point of getting rid of the Taliban if it means killing civilians with airstrikes and supporting a government of misogynist warlords and criminals?”
Rixar13 November 20th, 2009 at 6:39 am «

A Vietnam Veteran myself I often confer with my friend the Wise old Sheep Hearder, He said to “Get the Flock our of there”.
KarenM November 20th, 2009 at 7:34 am «

Thanks!

I’m looking forward to your upcoming interview, too.

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