Afghanistans Gray Line: The Education of "Combat Platoon"

Along Afghanistans porous border with Pakistan, the U.S. Army is focused on reaching out to Afghan villagers and building local institutions. Immense Mountains and abject poverty stand out as obstacles to success, but it is the human terrain that presents the greatest challenge.

In this mini-documentary, Lt. Jake Kerr, West Point Class 07, leads his motley Combat Platoon out of a remote outpost in the Dangam District of eastern Afghanistans Kunar province. Kerr, 25, of Lake Placid, N.Y., struggles to improve his skills as a peacemaker and diplomat even as the Taliban and his own warrior alter-ego draw him deeper into combat.

As more platoon-sized U.S. Army bases in eastern Afghanistan are abandoned over security fears, President Obama and the militarys top brass must scrutinize the hard work of Combat Platoon and others like it. In doing so, they must balance the pros of having Americas best foot forward, protecting the Afghans in a classic interpretation of Gen. Petraeus counter-insurgency doctrine, while, at the same time, weighing the cons of putting more fighters in harms way in a conflict that has only fragile -- sometimes fickle -- support at home.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• afghanistan
• pakistan
• Petraeus
• counterinsurgency
• army

[anteracmacash]

@renegadekav haha, you silly goose XD

[renegadekav]

@anteracmacash well back when there wasn't the sacrifice there has been for 2000+ years the wages of sin is death.and jumping in front of a bus is called suicide i've already thought of that don't be lazy kill me yourself.you've already tried to kill me and hurt me what a loving tolerant man you are.I can't wait for my country to be in your hands or those like you im sure things will be great,you'll impose your monkey man theocracy and all others will be killed or some other bull.

[anteracmacash]

@renegadekav well then jump in front of a buss...I'm sure god will understand that you've killed your self not to sinn but to be with him...I will leave you now with a quote from the Leviticus : 20:10 If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death.

[renegadekav]

@anteracmacash well once the christain knows you have heard the good news and don't want to hear more the wise one will move on so you don't have any problem so what are you whining about?maybe you should interpret it as both Gods plans are complex obviously he knows a little more then we do.I wish had my life taken especially at such a tender age I would have to be in this sick world and have people like you trying to take my rights and God knows what else.

[anteracmacash]

@renegadekav it takes faith to belive...or as we people who have a dictionary call it, ignorance

[anteracmacash]

@renegadekav I don't have a problem with your faith as long as I don't have to listen about your faith from you...you choose to go down this road, now be a man and take it...now tell me...the first born children that got killed in egypt by god, how should I interpret that ??as god sign of love or as a warning ??

[renegadekav]

@anteracmacash I don't have all the answers for you nobody does thats why it takes faith but I somehow doubt God said do something unjust cause the bible says he is just period.your unbelief doesn't mean Im dumb for believing in it you can call it spaghetti monster or whatever ill just call you monkey man and we'll call it even.

[renegadekav]

@anteracmacash you expect to talk to me like this yet preach tolerance and coexistence and probably civility also what a hypocrite!

[anteracmacash]

@renegadekav and the Children's Crusade must have also been gods plan do defend us from the enemy, right ??

[renegadekav]

@anteracmacash I guess he should have obeyed the Lord then huh.people on earth are on a need to know basis we just do what we have to.do you question wether or not to draw breath?you recognize reality and start breathing and it doesn't matter wether you believe in air or lungs or not.