Matthew Hoh, former Foreign Service Worker in Afghanistan

[mjosugrad2009]

I like this video, it's very informative, but who on earth wrote the subtitles? They're terrible! Some of the words are offensive. I'm not a prude, but this is serious subject matter and the last thing that is needed are dirty jokes on the subtitle line. Save it for Family Guy.

[radioactivemanonfire]

god i just want to bounce that guerillas head off every wall in that room. he's so annoying. i want to crack his head open by jacking a car up, putting his head under the tire, then lowering the car and consequently crushing his head.

no comment on the actual video

[shehzadshah]

The rural afghans are possibly the most fiercely traditional people in the world. They also have an ancient code of honor called pashtunwali that mandates an eye for an eye for even minor slights. Women in this medieval tradition are the forbidden fruit that no man other than the husband may even look upon. Its deplorable,but thats the way they've been for centuries and they're stubborn mothers.Conclusion: either nuke them all or just get out.

[padre1917]

"The Great War for Civilisation" talks about this nation and its conflict in immense depth.

even back to 1917, countries have never understood that Afghanistan is a country that will just do its thing, its way, and will never allow foreign occupation

[odetoinsolence]

The US helped overthrow democracy in Afghanistan.

[dna1987]

Matthew Hoh, you are a good man.

You, like Ron Paul and Ralph Nader, made the example near the end of the video: "if we were living and we were invaded...then we wouldn't like it either".

That is the main and entire reason extreme and even non-extreme Muslims are angry with ANY country that invades their homelands with guns and tanks. The extreme Muslims will still be there, but they won't have anything against the USA.

[PercyMcqueen]

@dna1987 There's not even that much of a dichotomy. When he says secular, non-extreme muslims he just means people who don't hate the government and the U.S. AS MUCH as the extremists. Afghanistan is like the Appalachian boondocks times 100. People there are poor, mean, and fucking crazy.

[Ajacks1911]

Hoh's place was not to question, but to carry out. I support his right to voice his opinion and make his own choices, but it sounds like he wanted a free ride home, along w/ a complimentary media tour.

[MajorDaytonGOP]

This Matthew Hoh is pussy thats why he quit. Just like some the other idiots I see quiting because their scared. Ive been to both Iraq and Afghanistan and I didnt chump out like some coward. I fought in the heat and watch some of the bravest men in the world die or get injured. This guy is straight coward. I just got back from deployment a few months ago.

172nd Infantry Brigade 1-77 Armor

[Irbubble]

Having been in the military grants no validity to your argument, you are just an intellectual coward who cannot let your words stand at their own merit.

Further to that, I do not hold people who brag about being stupid enough to kill because they are being told to as higher valued. Indeed, fuck all you cowardice cunts who are too weak to say no to a pointless war.

[silentgenocide1991]

Did you even listen to what he was saying majordikhead? have you heard of something called know your enemy? apparently not because your too busy being tough!

[beakerbeatz]

This is the most comprehensive explanation I've ever heard... Thank you tyt.

[ironwork92000]

Wow! How did they manage to get him on there?

[heki020]

Billyshake that's true, and one fundamental issue is that a large part of mankind is just too stupid to get themselves educated to a level where they can understand politics. As a result they turn away and ignore politics and have no frickin idea of who to vote for or how to voice themselves politically. We need to make politics more simple so we get everybody involved. The problem is that the politicians are bought and WANT people to be confused. Americans need to revolt before its too late.

[JimmyAbernethy]

More information on Afghanistan in the first few minutes of this video than the 7 years of television I've watched.

[R2C25]

@JimmyAbernethy I knew this when I was in 11th grade in my country. USA's news stations to me are entertainment bizz. CNN international is way different than the one on state and Fox wouldn't be considered news out there in the world. American people are just waking up to the world and what rude awakening this is. World really loved America when Clinton was the pres. but before G.W. Bush got in the office some people said the dogs of war are back on power couple of months later....

[Finkeren]

This ought to be a great insight to a lot of people. I knew most in advance, but a lot of people, apparently including Cenk, don't know this stuff. I think the best thing was, that Hoh challenged the mainstream view of the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan and showed that the U.S. invation wasn't too different from that.

[billyshake]

This is the same all over the world; rural Red Shirts vs. city Yellow Shirts in Thailand, red vs. blue in America, etc. etc. Religious, rural people living a homogeneous culture will always detest the educated, secular people living in cities of multiculturalism. The latter tend to look down on the former. It's amazing how common this dichotomy is across the globe and how virtually all politicians will make use of one side or the other -- seldom really caring about the constituency.

[Myschly]

Yeah really, to experiment on how to have the US succeed in their mission in Afghanistan (the 23rd or whtvr revision of what the mission is), try telling survivalists that the government has mandated something for them. You'll get shot before you've told 10 of 'em.

This "war" is a quagmire. We need to GTFO

[Imperiused]

I like this Matthew Hoh guy.

[SkreetGil]

So it us against the taliban. Here and there.

[Ivan951]

You, not me.

[SkreetGil]

Coward.

[Ivan951]

ill kick your ass. but this is a stupid ass war and i have no reason to fight.

[SkreetGil]

Fuck you! I'm not talking about the war stupid!

[mikedundee1979]

Very interesting interview. Although I knew a bit what's really going on over there, this guy put things in perspective for many people I'm sure.

[mangaas]

I didn't know Dane Cook served in Afghanistan

[MoPapparani]

USO, comics go there, perform, make the soldiers laugh, and call it service...

[mangaas]

I meant that as a joke.

This mathew Hoh guy looks like Dane Cook with a beard.

[GamertownUSA]

It's why the Afghanis hate us.

USA: "Um... Bill Hicks is dead. But we'll send someone just as funny: Dane Cook!"

- A month later of Dane Cook comedy -

Afghanistan: "Infidel liars! You killed Bill Hicks and let this guy live? DIE!!!"

[HumanStrategy]

Dane Cook isn't American in the same way that Earth isn't a planet.

You sir, are an idiot.

[GCensorship]

The video is 9 minutes 11 seconds long! It's a conspiracy!!!

[Alexwozere]

Very insightful interview, something you don't seem to get in the main stream media, at least in the US

[NumbFaction]

Matthew Hoh isnt saying anything new.

[mangaas]

You're absolutely right, instead, they should have discussed much more important things, like how Obama bowed too low to the Japanese emperor.......

[zknix20]

@ mangaas.

why obama bowing to the japanese emperor "too low" even makes any kind of news regardless of how much attention its gotten yet there are considerably greater problems at hand (i.e. the economy, healthcare) is beyond me. it sometimes makes me want to emigrate. i wouldnt be suprised if the world is laughing at us right now for being so concerned with something irrelevant.

[Phyrexious]

From The Netherlands I can tell you that most of europe is indeed laughing at "bow-gate". :)

On the other hand, most of us here adore Obama. And bowing only reinforces our idea that he's a good president.

Somehow republicans see it as a sign of weakness which really says something about their insecurity.

The japanese guy also shook Obama's hand. Both did something they normally don't do in their own culture. There. Easy as that. The bow is a handshake in another language. Done.

[zknix20]

@ Phyrexious

Thanks for letting me in on the european reaction =)

I would also like to say that everything you said is pretty much right on point and that i want to visit the netherlands someday as it seems like a really nice place =)

[needparalegal]

Yeah, he is a diplomat. Unfortunately we elected him to try to reform our corrupt government.

[TheMsboo35]

Cenk facial exspressions are priceless.

[hossboss96]

lost me around minute two

[no1saphead]

sounds like the gang wars.

[xandras1111]

How come Cenk didn't ask the black dude for his opinion on this issue?

Oh right... this didn't involve a black issue... fucking racist muslim

[GnosticAtheist]

What? Are you on drugs? What the fuck are you talking about?

[Alexwozere]

you are an idiot xandras1111

[A86]

To understand why most Afghans want us out imagine: an American religious extremist group destroys a building in Beijing. China invades the US, destroys our government, bombs our major cities to the ground and stations Chinese troops in American neighborhoods who can bust into our homes and interrogate us at will.

An armed American resistance group forms in your neighborhood. They ask for shelter in your basement. Would you A) Tell local Chinese occupation soldiers; or B) give them shelter?

[GnosticAtheist]

@A86 Very good point.

[falcon02012]

this is the best interview now we need Fox news to air it . :)

[GnosticAtheist]

@falcon02012 Yeah, thts going to happen. But first I need to go to the bank and cash out my 1 billion lottery ticket.

[A86]

I do not approve of religious fundamentalism or terrorism of any kind but most people who want us out of Afghanistan are law-abiding citizens. Not terrorists. This war will be failed the same as Iraq. You can't defeat an idea with bombs.

[anarchyfortheusa]

It's good to see Matthew's story get out but he should be careful associating with liberal media like TYT and other Obama apologists. They'll try to destroy his character at the first opportunity if he makes Obama look bad, just ask Cindy Sheehan.

[xadam2dudex]

odd that the US military doesn't destroy the poppy fields and end the money base of the drug lords ? maybe they have the1000s of acres of fields hidden in caves ? could it be because the CIA has had their hand in the drug business? where is the US going to get the money when the US infrastructure is falling apart ? 1000's of damns and bridges ready to collapse

[silentgenocide1991]

Mat is a smart man that is culturally literate, which is rare in Americans.

[bobbybenjamin]

your pompous generalization and portrayal of Americans is stereotypical  and just plain lazy. by attacking Americans as a whole you are attacking many people who want to keep conservative republicans out of office. think before you make radical generalizations. and yes i am an American.

[chairde]

silentgenocide1991,

Have you ever lived in America?

[silentgenocide1991]

No but i do know bush was voted as president twice!

[chairde]

The fact that President Obama is now in office mean anything to you?

[silentgenocide1991]

Yeah after what? and you saw all those people that didn't wana vote for him cause his name contained barak and because he was black. I know there are culturally literate people in America how ever they have always been stepped on or silenced by that are racist and greedy.

[chairde]

I'm having a difficult time understanding what you are trying to say. The majority of people in my country voted for Barack Obama. Therefore the majority of the people are not racists. So general sweeping statements are not valid when you are talking about 300 million people.

[Nothinkingnow]

Don't forget that not all the 300 million people are white :\

[silentgenocide1991]

Maybe you wouldn't if you weren't so fucking biost! calm down I'm not saying my country is better then yours okay buddy, your the best just relax don't throw a tantrum. The fact is that this is the first time somebody that isn't connected became president and people are going ape shit about it over there, the media the papers and some of the citizens are fucking outraged.

[chairde]

I am very calm. What does the word "biost" mean?

[silentgenocide1991]

It means one sided, what i meant was for you to stop being so defensive i don't hate America and I'm not attacking it what I'm saying is that if anybody watches American media they would probably remember dr goebbels and the nazi regime.

[neogen45]

No one remembers the good things when there're bad things to focus on. Some people set a horrible example and these are the people the world remembers. You gonna remember the gunslinger that hits 5/6 bottles or the one that accidentally shoots himself in the foot?

[bryanfunk]

@neogen45 true.... take President Clinton for example... can anyone name 5 things he did that are good? or just that he had sex? alot of sex lol

[baddmanaz]

clinton's biggest contribution to mankind was getting fleetwood mac back together.

[hurataimad]

the notion that an urban afghan is choosing between the american/government and talabaan is ridiculous.

you will most likely find that little to no one supports the government, but they then might deal with the government and choose the lesser of two evils.

if life was absolute then they would choose the talabaan, but the talabaan are seen as provincial in their thinking, it doesn't mean that the urban afghan isn't from the same spiritual origin.

[FaceKillaBloodSpilla]

i love how as soon as the guy mentioned religion cenk desperatley diverted away from that

[Mythification]

US will fail in Afghanistan, just as they did in Irak.

[pooyan6969]

Please spell it correctly if you are going to comment.

[Mythification]

Nu I woont!  ;)

[pooyan6969]

LOL

[Capng123]

They don't call it the "Graveyard of Empires" for nothing (although it does look pretty sexy on a travel brochure)!

[antropoloscar]

Perfect comparative analogy applied to american thinking..conservatives are ignorant and will never change their destructive ideology..so we have to ramm through the senate the policies that work

[genie0390]

@antropoloscar hey man,

will you please elaborate further as to what is that destructive conservative ideology?

seems to me that it was the progressives since FDR's time that have been pushing entitlements, promoting rabid environmentalists and morally bankrupt secular ideas that has us on the edge of financial ruin.

being a toothless, uneducated, inbred, zealot conservative that screws cousins and sisters at NASCAR events, I need help from an educated liberal/progressive like you

[Mxyzptlk562]

you can't forget that Afghanistan is not a secular country and it is not a Western country. The truth is that if you are in Afghanistan you have to make a deal with the devil (so to speak) and you have to co-opt the religious authorities there. What we should do, however, is support the more moderate factions over the religious hard liners.

[midgetman433]

single most important thing ive hrd, that actually makes sense about Afghanistan...

[jesusonXTC]

fuck islam

[DJMight]

@jesusonXTC Yeah this is all Islam's fault and has nothing to do with the British Empire creating borderlines all over the middle east and forcing these different ethnic tribes to fight for who controls the land. You're so right.../sarcasm

[RAMKING61]

Interesting. What's most interesting is how Matthews can talk for over nine minutes...but only mention heroin for about 5 seconds. 90% OF THE WORLD'S HEROIN COMES FROM AFGHANISTAN!!! There were no poppies, opium, or any heroin in Afghanistan prior to the CIA developing the fields in the late 70's. The United States is involved because of heroin power, not religion.

Always follow the money.

[EclecticSceptic]

You're nearly right

but you forgot the fact that the war is deliberately being drawn out for as long as possible to make billions from bank loans and arms/military contracts

[TheFoulline]

Great interview, want more !

[playgrrrr]

@wspol624 freedom fighters, thats how they think of themselves. except theyre not fighting for freedom. theyre fighting for oppression, the denial of education, etc. they are armed, they are blowing themselves up in the midst of civilians. thats why we are armed, too. it would be a policy failure to let them to as they please.

[dangerouslytalented]

However, the problem is, that simply having foreign occupiers only makes them stronger.

[playgrrrr]

until a convincingly better plan arrives we can only go with what we have :| i dont think obama is particularly happy with having troops die their either, nor is any of the other nations stationed there.

[EclecticSceptic]

Yea suicide bombers are evil

but war is great

honourable

sophisticated

and RIGHT

Shut up

[playgrrrr]

@EclecticSceptic so what do you propose? leave and let the fundis have a free hand in oppressing the moderate/progressive afghanis? letting them blow the civilians up? staying there is the least we can do. sometimes violence is unavoidable... we are dealing with humans here, after all. not with a kind of creature you can always reason with.

[TheDuckofLaw]

Make history in Afghanistan? Yeah... by being the most recent country to try and fail to conquer it.

[crayzal]

O the irony of a 9:11 min clip

[playgrrrr]

if that conflict is so old then its all the more reason to finally bring it to an end. you cant respect the values of militant fundamentalists. education, freedom etc are human rights.

we cant leave before this is finished.

[dangerouslytalented]

The problem is, that the rural Afghans do not WANT any modern advances. They think the entire modern world is of the devil. Literally. You can't impose it on them.

[DJMight]

@dangerouslytalented Uh...and you know this how? The only Afghanis that don't want technological advances are the nomads.

[dangerouslytalented]

Yes, the nomads, the rural people...

who make up the majority of the afghan population.

[DJMight]

@dangerouslytalented Rural people does not = nomad, hence the name "nomad." The rural people are using cell phones, and are open to advances that will simplify their lives.

[dangerouslytalented]

It is the rural people who resisted modernisation in the first place. Not just the nomads.

[DJMight]

@dangerouslytalented That term "modernization" is a loaded word. When people say it to an outsider, the outsider doesn't think just technological improvements, but also being forced to adopt the same type of goverment as the other country proposing it, as well as laws and religion too.

[DiceWarwick]

they were making money growing popys, the Urban people told them to stop it, it's killing their people, the rural people said "fuck you" and started to set the Urban people on fire, throwing chemicals in their kids faces, and attacking anyone around them by blowing themselves up.

We are not dealing with sane people. When the native Americans started going berserk on the wight people, they had already had half their population killed off to make room. and what did we to to the rural people?

[mynameisbobtoo]

you know we are there for oil right and not to help either side out because we care. We are there for empire building only.

How do you think a 20 year old American kid is going to give the locals an education while he has a rifle in his hands?

This is about going to war in order to get the spoils. Not revenge for 9-11 not to help the locals, not because we are the good guys....the only reason we are there is for oil and oil pipe lines down to the sea.

[playgrrrr]

first of all the US is not the only nation there, and the other thing is that noone is in afghanistan for oil, lols. youre confusing this with iraq.

how do you think unarmed people are going to survive fundamentalists attacking them with rifles, rpgs, ieds, suicide bombings? notice i said unarmed people, not unarmed foreign troops.

[mynameisbobtoo]

Oh please go to google and type in Oil reserves of the globe and look where they are Iraq has the oil Afganistan has Natural gas but that NG is not what we are after we are looking for a secure corridor to run pipe lines....

The only reason we have other Nations (limited in man power is because Bush bullied them into it and most have pulled out)...Please do some research and i think you'll be very upset.

[DJMight]

@mynameisbobtoo Every war is tied to natural resources or money. WWII started when Japan invaded China because it ran out of resources and wanted to steal China's, and Germany partially did this by invading Russia. What's funny is that we're force fed now that Germany and Japan are now our friends, and Russia and China are our enemies.

[duckman32001]

US saw China and Russia as enemies because of political difference. That was what started the cold war. But what I don't understand is why some people STILL think they are US enemies. Russia is no longer a communist country and China was never a physical threat to US in the first place. Other than being communist.

[DJMight]

@duckman32001 Because they threaten US's power and influence on the world.

[Mxyzptlk562]

As is the case in the US, there are a lot of "old school" people in Russia & other parts of the world who are nostalgic for the good old days of the Cold War. That was the world in which they were brought up and that is how they understand the world. Plus, in the particular case of Russia, it is a pride thing to oppose the USA. After all, it was they who lost the conflict whose regime crumbled like tooth picks. IF the US somehow succeeds in Afghan, it will be a big kick in the crotch to Russia.

[xxdonaldqxx]

For all intents China has taken over the Panama canal,they spy on the United States and bribe the crooked politicians.China is drilling for oil near Cuba.China has slave labor that has helped destroy the U.S.economy.

[duckman32001]

well the US have been doing the same thing to the rest of the world. This is what the major powers do. I'm not surprise.

[xxdonaldqxx]

You stated "China was never a physical threat to US in the first place",.Well thats not true even if you think  "US have been doing the same thing to the rest of the world. This is what the major powers do. I'm not surprise",. China is an enemy.

[mynameisbobtoo]

Exactly correct and good for you for being informed. Thank you.

Bob

[CognosSquare]

Cut short???

[footyspoak]

Great video

[businka1]

Get on with the program.

US is fighting radical islamists who hate freedom!

P.S.

Since there will be some here who think I am beeing serious, I am not.

[Pleblian]

Canadians are out 2011

[mynameisbobtoo]

all of Canada is coming out of the closet in 2011....Man you guys are organized....Congratulations

(see in America when some one is out it means they are gay)...so its like I was making a funny here....aw fuck never mind...

[Pleblian]

Project much?

[mynameisbobtoo]

No I served two tours over there. When we bipas the high ground and other tactical areas for low laying area and then run security ops for men in civliain clothing that are running survey posts we kind of put two and two together.....you even serve in the Army?

[Pleblian]

Are asking me?

[mynameisbobtoo]

No.....are you looking for a date? I know a guy....

[robertrulebirtannia]

bring back the PDPA!

[zardoz765]

More information in this interview than all newscast that I have seen regarding Afganistan.

Good job Cenk

[Mattinmotion]

Top interview, everyone should go see the whole thing on the TYTinterviews channel!

[Cheegro]

What a grand stinking CLUSTER FUCK that place is. And people here were fooled into thinking that we could just lumberjack our way in and sort it all out nice and neat. Thank you and congrats for bringing the real issues to the forefront where they belong. Late as most profound truths arrive after the facts, but better than never.

[DJMight]

Because people in the US have this mentality that any problem can be solved by destroying it, rather than knowing what caused the problem and how to solve it.

[Cheegro]

Very true and lets not forget what profit there is to gain from causing so much destruction. Sad chapter in history and sadly, I fear it won't be the last quagmire this country will entangle itself in.

[wimscheers]

Great. Mindchanging. And it has never been pointed out to me the war never ended after the SU left. I'd guessed it would still be messy, with lots of damage and local clanlords, but a civil war? I wonder if we could find Bush's view of the problem before he went in.

[avi919191]

the full interview was great

[evane1989]

Going to war is great as long as Obama says it is.

[pnoozi]

One of your best interviews, TYT

[dogblessamerica]

Absolutely brilliant interview... the most illuminating one I've ever seen regarding Afghanistan. Well done Cenk and Mr Hoh.

[avi919191]

watch the full 16minute one on tytinterviews

[micahgee]

Awesome interview Cenk!

Great work getting the access ;)

[Raditz86]

WOLVERINES! WOLVERINES!

[desenagrator]

woot!

[troglodyte3344]

thunder, thunder, thunder cats HoH !

[troglodyte3344]

@troglodyte3344

Schnarf Schnarf !

[Pelonetillo]

hoh... *beavis n butthead laugh*

[Pleblian]

Holy shit! Good job Cenk

[NuLLx42]

again? or is this the same interview?

[sxer99]

great interview

[bmcguire80]

@sxer99 I thumbsed you up before I realized "hey wait, he couldn't have possibly watched it yet... he's no better than the "first" guy below! just being a bit more sly about it! :) damn you!

[ChristinaWatkinson]

nvm. wow holy shit congrats omg!