Drive-By Post: On This Day in 1879

There are times when an image brings to mind thousands upon thousands of words…

Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on the reader’s perspective), I am not at the desk and presently hampered by typing on the phone to get an idea down for later consideration.

Take a look at these men…

If you have been on the ground on Afghanistan for any significant stretch, you will probably be thinking the same thing I was:

“Hm. Interesting. Switch weapons and there’s no difference between the 1870s and the 1980s… or today…”

We often overlook the perspective of our opponents. Perhaps this is a necessary feature to maintain our own will to fight. We derisively minimize ability and mock customs; and in doing so, we may set that foundation for severe underestimation.

“May”?

No… We have… and we will continue to do so. Though, and in all fairness, this isn’t a new phenomenon – I would be fairly comfortable in assuming that there was someone who mocked the Mongols, once upon a time (and not for very long, I would also safely venture).

So… Why does this picture provoke another hasty post?

Consider how much we have changed since 1879… and contrast that with what you see in the picture, with a quick glance at one phrase in my last post:

They waited. They were always waiting.

We changed; they didn’t… and some of us forgot that there is a basic necessity in many conflicts… if not, then future conflicts will follow the familiar patterns experienced by the French (Indochina), us (Vietnam), the Soviets (Afghanistan), the Russians (Chechnya), and us once more (Iraq and Afghanistan).

My thoughts on this thread all originated from one song inspired by Noel Davis’ 1979 documentary Front Line. Another Kate Bush piece: “Pull Out the Pin,” and it struck me that the theme of the song – that of a fictional VC soldier stalking American troops, it wouldn’t take that much effort into making it more contemporary with the insurgencies my generation has had to contend with.

Don’t misconstrue my meaning here: it will take about as much effort to turn me into a hippy-dippy pacifist as it would for a BLT shop to open in Kabul.

I just find it fascinating that, 142 years ago today, “All is well in the Kabul Embassy” turned into another part of the continuous Afghan quagmire for a global power of the time.

At least in 2163, the will have tons of Tweets. posts, podcasts, and videos available to understand how we perceive their history.