War & Poverty: Needs Must In Afghanistan

I've always seen a correlation bewteen poverty, ecomonic instability, poor or/and extreme governance and a predilection for violent conflict if not all-and-out war. I'm always skeptical about fact and figures and this is obviously not a completely comprehensive survey. Also, you can interpret some of the data in any number of ways, question how their questions were put, and of course how exactly answers were meant in translation. But, there seems no doubt the results of the poll are very surprising, certainly from a western point.

While researching Nathaniel Fick, I came across an interview in which he mentioned his work at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). Fellow ex-soldiers Jake Cusack and Erik Malmstrom wrote a short policy brief for CNAS that seemed to reflect some of Oxfams findings. I was somewhat surprised to find ex-soldiers actively working, what can really be called, in a humanitarian capacity. Whatever your politics, view on the 'occupation' or war, and however cynical (I'm the ultimate optimistic cynic!) you want to see this, I'm glad this kind of discussion, research, alternative view is being produced and put out there.



Afghanistan's Willing Entrepreneurs

Source: BBC News
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8363151.stm

Oxfam: The Cost of War Report

The Road to Hill 10

One of the first vets to return to Vietnam, this is long and revealing piece about his return to the places and people he fought, by William Broyles Jr. - journalist/screen writer and ex-marine.

Excerpt (it's a long one!):

A veteran's return to Vietnam

We crossed the bridge over the Tuy Loan River and stopped the car on the other side. Sweet potatoes and manioc were drying in the sun. The smell of sugarcane filled the air. The old bridge had been blown up in 1974, and at first I wasn't sure where I was. On the north bank, where our bunkers had been, there was now a brick kiln. On the south bank, where I'd had my command post, two men dressed only in shorts were sitting in a shed, patiently sawing logs. Across the road, near where we had set up our recoilless rifle, was a small roadside stand selling tea, cigarettes, and drinks. It had all changed. But the bend in the river was the same, and so were the mountains beyond. I looked in the distance for the old French fort in the foothills where my platoon had often set its foxholes for the night. I was stunned when it rose out of the foreground, scarcely a mile away.

Vietnam was so much smaller than I had remembered...

The Road to Hill 10 - The Atlantic 1985

Sleeping with the Enemy, Afghanistan

Hearts & Minds 1974 Documentary Film

I can't remember how or where I found this. Anyway, this film has definitely got an anti-war agenda in the editing...it's hard watching - I had to do it in two parts separated by a week.