What does a master’s degree in strategic studies and international economics from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies get you in the US Army Reserve?
Staff sergeant’s stripes, a place on the firing line in a Baghdad based Combat Outpost and the platform from whence to cut through the BS:
The efforts being carried out by Iraqis, the coalition and nongovernmental organizations focus on essential services, economic development and reconciliation. Restoring services such as electricity, a dependable sewage system, trash collection, and access to fuels and potable water are at the top of the agenda. Initiatives to bring all of these services to a satisfactory level have met with some success. The local economy has benefited from the lull in violence. Market areas that were once desolate are teeming with life, consumers are out and shops are open. Coalition initiatives to develop local market councils and provide micro-grants and micro-loans to small-business owners are providing a much-needed economic spark to Baghdad’s neighborhoods.
My earlier post was all about hardware, but it’s worth remembering that the real strength in our force is our people: Nobody else does this.
Thanks for the Ammunition Lex! I have been keeping up with a rather “liberal” military spouse who has a blog for a newspaper. She generally keeps things on her blog even keel and not much controversy. However, yesterday she yanked out her “Big Guns” and used our emotions as spouses as her prime weapon of choice. Doing the typical argument about how this war was for nothing, look at how long they have been gone, look at the “millions” (Monday’s deaths brought the number to 3,979 members of the U.S. military who have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to the Associated Press ) who have died, etc.
I have a great deal of respect for those who lost their lives but was looking for a well rounded piece of credible media information to share as a back up source for my view. I believe we should always back what we say vs rattle off on emotion alone. Because this Washington Post piece was so recent this really was a great help for me to show the efforts of this war have proven some success with much perseverance and hard work on our part. These things take much time, patience and in some cases trial and error to get it right. I just wanted to thank you!
Lex, First, let me thank SSGT. Anthony J Diaz, for your service to this Country and writing this article. You have shed light on a very complex society. Thank you, SSGT. Diaz.
Lex, it was interesting, you use the link as part SSGT. Diaz’s mission, “cut through the BS.” By the way, “SGT, don’t leave that ‘BS cutter’ in Baghdad, Bring it home, there is plenty to cut here!
Grumpy
Acronym overload: And he’s not the only SAIS MA SSG I know of on active duty.
Chap, you make a good point about acronym overload. SAIS = School of Advanced International Studies and MA = Master of Arts. I screwed up and added the extra “T” for SSG or Staff Sergeant, I stand corrected. My time was the Viet Nam War or the late 60′s, long time ago. By the way, Chap, is it my imagination or did you intentionally overlook one more, “BS”? “BS” does not stand for Bachelor of Science, watch your step. “BS”=?
Have a great weekend,
Grumpy
A real pleasure meeting you today at the airport. Good luck with your Thesis!
There is a British company that by year’s end will have spent close to $100 million in 450 communities within Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey, building water-purification systems, medical clinics, primary schools, parks, and roads.
Of course this company’s motivation is not purely altruistic humanitarianism.
No, BP’s motivation was to protect its controversial and vulnerable BTC oil pipeline by creating in essence, a “neighborhood watch program” for the pipeline. Nice work for a company once known as one of the 10 worst. And it is a win-win for both the company, and the many thousands of very poor people along the pipeline route.
(from CSM)
@Grumpy: I could always add a couple of zillion acronyms, right?
And I think the SSG I’m talking about has a B.A. not a B.Sc….and oh what the heck; he’s ABD for a Ph.D. because he went on AD for OEF.
TINS.