sounds right on the mark and as though there have been few changes in the last 40 years. The Army stuff also sounds as if there have been few changes in the last 60 years. Particularly the bit about his having to qualify prior to departure and the brouhaha surrounding that...

Sad.

The fact that local culture has not changed in 40 -- or several thousand -- years is no surprise. Anyone who expects that it will in the next generation or two is going to be severely disappointed, I expect. The, BTW, would be US, not Afghan, generations.

The fact that the Army has not changed is just very disappointing not to mention dangerous. He said the Army is committed to processes, not outcomes. Regrettably, terribly, he's right.

He may be a young Captain but he's got a lot of stuff figured out that some older folks ought to investigate -- and try to fix.