Comments for Stephen Grey http://www.stephengrey.com Tue, 09 Aug 2011 11:11:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 Comment on Books by Track safety data and tail numbers to uncover fresh airline stories : BusinessJournalism.org Reynolds Center for Business Journalism http://www.stephengrey.com/books/comment-page-1/#comment-540 Track safety data and tail numbers to uncover fresh airline stories : BusinessJournalism.org Reynolds Center for Business Journalism Tue, 09 Aug 2011 11:11:22 +0000 http://stephengrey.wordpress.com/?page_id=135#comment-540 [...] hired by the CIA to reveal the spy agency’s rendition of terror suspects, detailed in his book Ghost Plane. If one of the CIA’s most top-secret programs can be uncovered following tail numbers, the [...] [...] hired by the CIA to reveal the spy agency’s rendition of terror suspects, detailed in his book Ghost Plane. If one of the CIA’s most top-secret programs can be uncovered following tail numbers, the [...]

]]> Comment on Hearts, minds and the same old warlords by The king of Kandahar is dead – who will succeed Ahmed Wali Karzai? | Stephen Grey - World Bad News : World Bad News http://www.stephengrey.com/2010/07/hearts-minds-and-the-same-old-warlords/comment-page-1/#comment-499 The king of Kandahar is dead – who will succeed Ahmed Wali Karzai? | Stephen Grey - World Bad News : World Bad News Wed, 13 Jul 2011 19:51:17 +0000 http://www.stephengrey.com/?p=600#comment-499 [...] a streets of Kandahar, where we stayed unembedded final year, I reported on how it was apparent a armed militias of AWK and other strongmen like Sherzai who ruled a roost [...] [...] a streets of Kandahar, where we stayed unembedded final year, I reported on how it was apparent a armed militias of AWK and other strongmen like Sherzai who ruled a roost [...]

]]> Comment on IN THE VIPER’S NEST published in the United States by SPC Jasen Pruitt http://www.stephengrey.com/2010/11/in-the-vipers-nest-published-in-the-united-states/comment-page-1/#comment-438 SPC Jasen Pruitt Thu, 03 Mar 2011 22:25:38 +0000 http://www.stephengrey.com/?p=613#comment-438 You mentioned me on pae 212 of "Operation Snake Bite". Just wanted to show my gratitude. When I was young and was first thinking about joining the military it wasn't for money, to move or because I was inspired by family. I always wanted to be a part of history, to be learned about in schools. I know I was apart of the whole battle of Musa Qala, but not many people have heard or will hear about that mission. I know this book will never be read in history classes or turned into a 5 star Hollywood production, but the simple fact that it has been documented and published is more then I ever expected. Thank you for placing so much honesty and dedication to these books. I have just ordered "Into The Viper's Nest" and can't wait to revieve and read it. Once again thank you. It means alot to people of A Co., 1/508th PIR! You mentioned me on pae 212 of “Operation Snake Bite”. Just wanted to show my gratitude. When I was young and was first thinking about joining the military it wasn’t for money, to move or because I was inspired by family. I always wanted to be a part of history, to be learned about in schools. I know I was apart of the whole battle of Musa Qala, but not many people have heard or will hear about that mission. I know this book will never be read in history classes or turned into a 5 star Hollywood production, but the simple fact that it has been documented and published is more then I ever expected. Thank you for placing so much honesty and dedication to these books. I have just ordered “Into The Viper’s Nest” and can’t wait to revieve and read it. Once again thank you. It means alot to people of A Co., 1/508th PIR!

]]> Comment on Just Cause: Unjust Means by Dermot Rooney http://www.stephengrey.com/2010/04/just-cause-unjust-war/comment-page-1/#comment-436 Dermot Rooney Tue, 04 Jan 2011 14:38:00 +0000 http://www.stephengrey.com/?p=526#comment-436 This is good stuff - wish I'd seen it sooner. Any thoughts one just war at the close tactical level? Corporals seem to have started the shift from killing to capturing but it's early days yet. This is good stuff – wish I’d seen it sooner. Any thoughts one just war at the close tactical level? Corporals seem to have started the shift from killing to capturing but it’s early days yet.

]]> Comment on Books by War Is Business | who benefits? http://www.stephengrey.com/books/comment-page-1/#comment-408 War Is Business | who benefits? Sun, 05 Sep 2010 22:13:50 +0000 http://stephengrey.wordpress.com/?page_id=135#comment-408 [...] and their contractors—through their unique FAA N-numbers—is how investigative reporters like Stephen Grey began to unravel the US practice of “extraordinary rendition” of terrorist [...] [...] and their contractors—through their unique FAA N-numbers—is how investigative reporters like Stephen Grey began to unravel the US practice of “extraordinary rendition” of terrorist [...]

]]> Comment on Hearts, minds and the same old warlords by George Hudson http://www.stephengrey.com/2010/07/hearts-minds-and-the-same-old-warlords/comment-page-1/#comment-388 George Hudson Mon, 26 Jul 2010 09:56:25 +0000 http://www.stephengrey.com/?p=600#comment-388 One of Evelyn Waugh's characters (in The Sword of Hour triology) who anticipates the conflict of war as a chance to "biff" the enemy. It is not surprising that biffing is the mind set of the military, its their function but it is also that which informs the foreign policy of most nations, especially that of the USA and the UK. But surely politicians must know of the cost of the wars. All the thousands of lives and millions of £s that have been wasted does not seem a rational solution to the maintenance of home security. Why, then is NATO in Afghanistan? Indeed, the policy of biffing merely exacerbate the problems that is supposed to solve. Eric Jordan's solution to the Afghanistan wars seem the rational one. One of Evelyn Waugh’s characters (in The Sword of Hour triology) who anticipates the conflict of war as a chance to “biff” the enemy. It is not surprising that biffing is the mind set of the military, its their function but it is also that which informs the foreign policy of most nations, especially that of the USA and the UK. But surely politicians must know of the cost of the wars. All the thousands of lives and millions of £s that have been wasted does not seem a rational solution to the maintenance of home security. Why, then is NATO in Afghanistan? Indeed, the policy of biffing merely exacerbate the problems that is supposed to solve. Eric Jordan’s solution to the Afghanistan wars seem the rational one.

]]> Comment on The Tribal Path : the winning solution may be classified. by RAM Seeger http://www.stephengrey.com/2010/07/the-tribal-path-the-winning-solution-may-be-classified/comment-page-1/#comment-381 RAM Seeger Wed, 21 Jul 2010 15:59:35 +0000 http://www.stephengrey.com/?p=609#comment-381 Your contact “Eric Jordan” is right insomuch that the war cannot be won kinetically and the key to success is to make better use of the tribes. Firstly because they can do the job more effectively and more cheaply than Western forces and secondly, because it will deny the Taliban the use of what they appreciate is a very valuable asset. The current strategy also has two others serious flaws – Karzai’s unpopular and corrupt government and an over expanded ethnically unrepresentative ANA. However as we make clear in our paper (The Tribal Path), understanding and winning over the tribes will be neither quick not easy. At present the West plans to subcontract tribal engagement by channeling funds through the Karzai regime, which has spectacularly failed to make headway in this arena due to endemic corruption within the regime. According to Transparency International’s ‘Corruption Perceptions Index’ Afghan government has managed to fall from 117th out of 180 nations in 2005 to 179th in 2009. As long as corruption remains a major feature of Karzai government administration trusting them with the funds for the vital task of drawing the tribes round to supporting the West’s strategy is, at best, premature. It has merit only after positive achievement in significant corruption reduction in government can be demonstrated tied to significant improvement between government and tribal engagement. The alternative approach, the one on the table now, is very much a horse before the cart approach. Ken Guest, ‘RAM’ Seeger and Lucy Morgan Edwards. Your contact “Eric Jordan” is right insomuch that the war cannot be won kinetically and the key to success is to make better use of the tribes. Firstly because they can do the job more effectively and more cheaply than Western forces and secondly, because it will deny the Taliban the use of what they appreciate is a very valuable asset. The current strategy also has two others serious flaws – Karzai’s unpopular and corrupt government and an over expanded ethnically unrepresentative ANA. However as we make clear in our paper (The Tribal Path), understanding and winning over the tribes will be neither quick not easy.

At present the West plans to subcontract tribal engagement by channeling funds through the Karzai regime, which has spectacularly failed to make headway in this arena due to endemic corruption within the regime. According to Transparency International’s ‘Corruption Perceptions Index’ Afghan government has managed to fall from 117th out of 180 nations in 2005 to 179th in 2009. As long as corruption remains a major feature of Karzai government administration trusting them with the funds for the vital task of drawing the tribes round to supporting the West’s strategy is, at best, premature. It has merit only after positive achievement in significant corruption reduction in government can be demonstrated tied to significant improvement between government and tribal engagement. The alternative approach, the one on the table now, is very much a horse before the cart approach.

Ken Guest, ‘RAM’ Seeger and Lucy Morgan Edwards.

]]> Comment on A ten point agenda on Afghanistan by Steve http://www.stephengrey.com/2010/06/a-ten-point-agenda-on-afghanistan/comment-page-1/#comment-355 Steve Wed, 02 Jun 2010 10:01:29 +0000 http://www.stephengrey.com/?p=558#comment-355 Like it. Makes a lot of sense. Certainly far better than any other ideas we've seen in the last 5 years! Like it. Makes a lot of sense. Certainly far better than any other ideas we’ve seen in the last 5 years!

]]> Comment on A ten point agenda on Afghanistan by Ten Point Agenda On Afghan - link via Michael Yon. - PPRuNe Forums http://www.stephengrey.com/2010/06/a-ten-point-agenda-on-afghanistan/comment-page-1/#comment-354 Ten Point Agenda On Afghan - link via Michael Yon. - PPRuNe Forums Wed, 02 Jun 2010 09:57:16 +0000 http://www.stephengrey.com/?p=558#comment-354 [...] Point Agenda On Afghan - link via Michael Yon. A ten point agenda on Afghanistan|Stephen Grey Looks quite interesting. Wonder what will actually [...] [...] Point Agenda On Afghan – link via Michael Yon. A ten point agenda on Afghanistan|Stephen Grey Looks quite interesting. Wonder what will actually [...]

]]> Comment on Task Force Black: a review by Adrian Gilbert http://www.stephengrey.com/2010/03/task-force-black-a-review/comment-page-1/#comment-321 Adrian Gilbert Mon, 01 Mar 2010 15:13:33 +0000 http://www.stephengrey.com/?p=514#comment-321 Perceptive review. There's a review of Operation Snakebite (and Task Force Black)on: www.warbooksreview.com Perceptive review. There’s a review of Operation Snakebite (and Task Force Black)on:

http://www.warbooksreview.com

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