Afghanistan Diaries
Afghanistan Diaries
Afghanistan Diaries
Over the next two months, Dissent’s website will feature dispatches from Lieutenant Sam Jacobson, who served as a mentor to the 1st Brigade, 215th Corps of the Afghan National Army, first with the brigade staff and then for eight months with one of the brigade’s infantry companies. Jacobson is a graduate of the University of Chicago, where he studied the humanities. He previously served as an infantry platoon commander in Iraq.
In his speech to West Point cadets in December 2009, President Obama outlined the three objectives he hoped to accomplish in Afghanistan: “We must deny al Qaeda a safe-haven. We must reverse the Taliban’s momentum and deny it the ability to overthrow the government. And we must strengthen the capacity of Afghanistan’s Security Forces and government, so that they can take lead responsibility for Afghanistan’s future.”
The editors hope that Lieutenant Jacobson’s words will shed some light on the third objective, and the experiences of the soldiers that work to carry it out.
Each Thursday new posts will appear here, accessible from the left sidebar on the homepage. Some names in this writing have been changed.
9/29: Pete’s Place, Manas Transit Center, Kyrgyzstan, July 2010
Camp Garmsir, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, July 2010
10/6: Camp Garmsir, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, July 2010
10/14: Lashkar Gah, Capital of Helmand Province, Afghanistan, August 2010
Camp Shorabak, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, August 2010
Camp Dwyer, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, August 2010
10/20: Camp Garmsir, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, August 2010
Combat Outpost Rankel, Safar, Garmsir District, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, September 2010
11/3: Combat Outpost Rankel, Safar, Garmsir District, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, September 2010
Safar Kalay, Garmsir District, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, October 2010
Safar Bazaar Bridge Checkpoint, Garmsir District, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, November 2010
11/10: Combat Outpost Rankel, Safar, Garmsir District, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, November 2010
The views expressed are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Navy, Department of Defense, or the United States government.
Image: U.S. Marine Corps, 2010, Flickr creative commons
