Christopher Hitchens has an interesting piece up in Slate on Afghanistan touching on items and matters of grand strategy that Mike Yon has previously alluded to.  Money shot:

The U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime tells us that last year Afghanistan's poppy fields, on 193,000 hectares of land, produced 93 percent of all the world's opium. The potential production could be as high as 8,200 metric tons. And, unsurprisingly, UNODC also reports that the vast bulk of the revenue from this astonishing harvest goes directly to the Taliban or to local warlords and mullahs. Meanwhile, in the guise of liberators, NATO forces appear and tell the Afghan villagers that they intend to burn their only crop. And the American embassy is only restrained by the Afghan government from pursuing a policy of actually spraying this same crop from the air! In other words, the discredited fantasy of Richard Nixon's so-called "War on Drugs" is the dogma on which we are prepared to gamble and lose the country that gave birth to the Taliban and hospitality to al-Qaida.

I'm not fond of the war on drugs (or the demagoguery that encouraged our politicians to start the war on poverty, or the war on illiteracy, or the war on racism, or the war on AIDS, or the war on hydrocarbons); but let's assume that the War on Drugs is, in fact, a real war -- legitimately one of the three major wars we're fighting right now, along with Iraq and Afghanistan.  And let's make an analogy to the Germans in World War I, who fought on two fronts, and lost; and then a further analogy to World War II, where we fought simultaneously against Germany and then, across the world, in Japan.  Even though Japan was the more blatant aggressor, we made a strategic decision to starve the Pacific theater of troops in order to bring the war against to Germany to a successul conclusion at the earliest practical date.  Now back to Hitchens and his specific strategic proposal:

Surely a smarter strategy would be, in the long term, to invest a great deal in reforestation and especially in the replanting of vines. While in the short term, hard-pressed Afghan farmers should be allowed to sell their opium to the government rather than only to the many criminal elements that continue to infest it or to the Taliban. We don't have to smoke the stuff once we have purchased it: It can be burned or thrown away or perhaps more profitably used to manufacture the painkillers of which the United States currently suffers a shortage. (As it is, we allow Turkey to cultivate opium poppy fields for precisely this purpose.) Why not give Afghanistan the contract instead? 

I'll actually go a step further than Hitchens and argue that if giving Afghanistan a contract to help fill our need of prescription opiates doesn't take the supply back off the market, and the profit out of terrorist hands, then we ought to look at a more liberal policy allowing for legalization, or perhaps just decriminalization, of heroin, that would separate less dangerous and more rational traditional drug criminals from the Taliban supply chain. 

The reason I'm asking this question here is that so many of you are or were soldiers; many of you have recent experience in Afghanistan, and unlike me, have seen the reality of what's happening on the gound.  At the same time, many of you know people here in America who have died from overdoses, or perhaps just wasted their lives in alchoholism.  Relatives, friends, friends of friends.  You can see that there is a trade-off:  By keeping opium illegal, we make it harder to win in Afghanistan and but help create American, British, French, German, and Polish KIA's.  By decriminalizing opium, we create more junkies and people who die from overdoses.  So is it one American soldier who dies for each junky?  Is it 3:1?  Or is it 1:3?  I don't know.  But I'd like to hear your thoughts: What elements of the drug war are you willing to give up on, or at least table, in order to win the war in Afghanistan?  Which are you not?  Or is this a false choice?  Why?  How come no mainstream politicians are willing to talk about this out loud?  Your comments below, please.

-- Uber Pig

This is part of a series of interviews sponsored by Baen Books with some of today's top military science fiction writers.

Lawyer, bus driver, and best-selling author: these are just a few of the jobs David Drake has done over the years. Best known to many for his "Hammer's Slammer's series," David actually covers a range of genres and interests, and includes among his credits a major in Latin. Though I doubt he remembers it, many years ago he translated a version of "Ave Imperator" that I still use and get away with simply because so few know Latin. His works are too numerous to list, but include Hammer's Slammers, Redliners, Lord of the Isles, the Northworld Trilogy, and the humorous look at life Grimmer Than Hell.

In this segment, we pick up with the rest of the Jim Baen story started in Part 2, how he became a military science fiction writer, learn the difference between military science fiction and space opera, and how the Norse myths became a science fiction trilogy. Part One can be found here. Please enjoy.

LW

Sgts. Asa Rubman and Rachel Littenberg, both paralegal specialists assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, assist service members and civilians while they register to vote Oct. 4, 2008 at Forward Operating Base Falcon, Iraq. Through their efforts, more than 550 civilians and Soldiers from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, registered to vote.  Photographer: Sgt. David Hodge, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Public Affair.

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Aaron Hignight, a native of Ft. Smith, Ark., poses with his guitar marked with fellow U.S. Soldiers who lost their lives in Iraq and wrote them in tribute to them, at the Joint Security Station Hurriyah One, Iraq on Sept. 28, 2008. Hignight is a member of Alpha Company, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division.  Photographer: Sgt. Manuel Martinez, Joint Combat Camera Center Iraq.

This comes from Matt...

75th Ranger Regiment Soldier awarded Silver Star
By Staff Sgt. Andrew Kosterman
1st Special Forces Group (Airborne)

FORT LEWIS, Wash. (USASOC News Service, Sept. 27, 2008) – What began as a mission to find and eliminate terrorists earlier this year in Iraq ended up being a life-defining moment for one member of 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment.

Spc. Joe Gibson was on a secret night mission Apr. 26, 2008 when he placed his comrades' lives ahead of his while evacuating wounded American Soldiers and engaging in hand-to-hand combat with a suicide bomber. His actions that day saved the lives of fellow Rangers.

The attention brought from the awarding of the nation's third highest medal for valor makes Gibson feel slightly "uncomfortable," and is quick to point out the achievements of his brothers in arms.

"I am honored to be here with those other guys that got honored," said Gibson following an awards ceremony for members of the unit.

The medal was presented to Gibson by Adm. Eric Olson, commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command. With the stoic look many Rangers have from multiple combat tours, Gibson stood tall when presented the medal.

Before presenting Gibson and other Rangers medals for their actions in combat, Olson lauded the men of the 75th Ranger Regiment.

"You are a special breed, we ask a lot of you and for that the nation and I thank you," said Olson. "Rangers are proven over and over again in battle. Rangers are glorified in Hollywood movies, but you aren't actors, you are real men who make real sacrifices"

Olson added that Gibson's actions during the mission for which he was awarded "exemplify and uphold the warrior culture of the Rangers."

THE CRUCIBLE BEGINS

As the helicopter full of Rangers touched down that April night, Gibson and fellow Soldiers found themselves dodging enemy small arms fire less than 50 meters away.

Gibson's platoon sergeant said the enemy small arms and machine gun fire began "less than a minute" after the group disembarked the helicopter.

"The contact was heavy where Spc. Gibson was," said the platoon sergeant. "We took 2 casualties there."

He described the setting as "a very dark night, out in the middle of nowhere with no ambient light, chest high grass, deep irrigation ditches."

Among the two casualties the Rangers sustained was a life threatening gun shot wound victim.

"The guy that got hit is a real good friend of mine, and he called out to me," said Gibson. "Me and another guy moved to him. I had the medical equipment, so I started getting that prepped while other people started taking care of him. We got him ready for (evacuation), patched him up and started moving him out."

Transporting the casualty over an uneven field with irrigation ditches and through enemy fire was a challenge for the Rangers.

"Moving him out was horrible. It was the most 'smoked' I've ever been. It was physically demanding," said Gibson.

The Rangers' dedication to each other motivated Gibson to get his friend to safety.

"It was my buddy, I didn't want to quit," said Gibson. "For a while, it was just me on one end of the litter."

Gibson's actions are credited with saving the Soldier's life.

The Soldier returned home safely to see his wife and newborn.

MAKING SURE

After assisting in the medical evacuation, Gibson and the Rangers continued on with their mission.

They began to clear a field with tall grass and canals near the helicopter landing zone. The Rangers knew enemy was still in the area even though most had fled when the Soldiers touched down.

While clearing the field, Gibson stepped on a terrorist hiding in a ditch under some grass.

"I really didn't think it was a person that I stepped on because I thought it was just another part of the ground, maybe some trash or something," said Gibson.

Initially, Gibson continued for a few more steps past the terrorist. Following his gut instinct, Gibson turned around investigate what he stepped on.

The terrorist moved to kill Gibson and the Rangers.

"He didn't say anything other than giving his war cry," explained Gibson. "He had an advantage on me. I didn't have a chance to get my weapon ready and I knew he was gonna shoot me, so I dived on him."

Gibson grabbed the muzzle of the terrorist's rifle as the terrorist began to fire. Gibson wrestled the terrorist to the ground and gained positional control. He struggled and later stripped the terrorist of his weapon.

After stripping the terrorist of the weapon, the terrorist gripped Gibson's rifle. Without the ability to use a firearm, Gibson engaged the enemy with his hands.

"Then he ripped off my helmet and all my (night vision) optics, so I couldn't see all that well," recalled Gibson.

The terrorist then began to reach for something hiding in his clothing.

"I stopped him 'cause I thought maybe he was grabbing a knife to attack me with," said Gibson.

The terrorist was reaching for the detonator to his suicide vest. The terrorist screamed "bomb!" in English.

"I thought at that moment that I was probably going to die," explained Gibson.

As Gibson worked to stop the terrorist from detonating his vest, the terrorist had maneuvered into a position that was cutting off Gibson's circulation.

Gibson, in an effort to save himself, began to hit the terrorist as hard as he could. His blows rendered the terrorist unconscious.

"I got my weapon into his stomach and fired," said Gibson. "And he came back to conscious after that, I knew I got him. I stood up and neutralized him."

DOING HIS JOB

The native of Yale, Okla. explains that he was just doing what he was supposed to do and that he thinks he doesn't deserve any special recognition.

Gibson said he is honored to serve as a Ranger and have save his fellow Soldier's life.

Gibson added that he "can't wait" to return to Iraq.

Following the incident, Gibson re-enlisted to fight with the Ranger platoon he accompanied that night.

More here from local Tacoma news...more here.

Good Monday morning!  Just a quick update featuring an interview I did with Pete Hegseth of Vets For Freedom (VFF) on Friday (yeah- a busy weekend).

Wanted to get an idea of what VFF was up to these days, and what their outlook was leading up to the November election.  While VFF is NOT a 'partisan' group (they are a 501 3c, BTW) he wanted to let us know that they ARE heavily concentrating material into 12 key states; if you are in one of these 12 states you are likely to see VFF material crossing your airwaves:

MN, FL, IA, VA, WI, MI, PA, NV, NM, MO, CO, OH

What, exactly, are they concentrating on?  I'll let Pete say it:

We have a heavy emphasis on pushing for support of Senate Resolution 636 and emphasizing the successes of our troops overseas.  Also, we will be publishing a 'report card' that details the voting record of Congressmen and women on bills that supported issues important to our troops and veterans.  It will details who voted for what and how they voted.  Also, we'll be issuing a report on our reporters embedding in Iraq; what they saw, what the troops told them about the situation, and what conditions were like compared to what it was like back when they were walking the streets.

I'm looking forward to that report.  I assisted with their embed travels (via Gryphon) and I'm as anxious to know what they experienced as anyone.  VFF has a huge volunteer organization and they will certainly have an impact on framing issues important to us all. 

Of note was a comment that Pete made regarding Iraq: that Iraq will become more of an 'economic' issue and less of a military one (as long as current conditions and trends are maintained).  That is to say the expenditures of the US over there will become more of an issue than the military tactical or even strategic activities there.  Given what we've experience in the meltdowns in our economic sector, I would have to agree,to a point.  It will be purely a political play, and not a true economic concern given that what we spend is truly not near what the CRA has cost us in the long run. 

VFF has a long-term viability, not strictly a short-term play leading into the elections.  While Pete heavily reiterates that getting issues addressed now in the media is important, it's primarily because the DEBATE on these issues are at the forefront during and election cycle.  Pete says that they will remain quite relevant far beyond Nov 4th, as they will also address support for GWOT going forward, focus on whatever withdrawal plans are presented no matter WHO wins the White House (to further support the efforts and sacrifices made by the troops) as well as any other issues that may arise post-election.

Hooah, Pete.  Safe travels and keep up the great work!  And if I were you, I'd be careful re-entering your office after Jimbo's been there...

Wolf

NOTE:  Go to this site to see CJ's report on a previous VFF effort last spring.  The pic is there, too.

Now, this is the kind of thing that just can't go unpunished.

Booksforsoldiers.com has sent thousands of care
packages to our troops deployed outside the US since March 2003.   But
Booksforsoldiers.com is in dire financial need now, and may close.
The site must raise $22,000 by October 31 or it will stop taking new
requests on December 1, finish filling remaining care package requests
for the holidays, and cease operations December 31.

"Twenty-two grand?  No problem.  We'll have it for you in the morning.  Let's go, Ellwood."

Seriously, I'll kick in twenty bucks -- that's like buying one book (or DVD) for one soldier this year, and mailing it over.  I'll be surprised if the BlackFive readership can't fix this by ourselves.  It's a tough time, yeah, but I hope it'll never be too tough that I can't find a twenty to buy a deployed soldier a book (or a recently returned soldier a couple of drinks).

Kick in here, if you want.