Surmising that the officer in question is suffering from PTSD, as a basis for explaining his statement in resignation, offers nothing constructive to the forum in my view. The fact is he has served his country in two combat zones multiple times this decade, and has earned the right to keep private any personal reasons behind his resignation.
I do think it inappropriate that his resignation letter was published. It's worldwide, immediate access lends additional credence to a view not shared by many.
I do take issue with two points in his letter:
1. I fundamentally disagree with any argument that posits that the occupation is the cause of the insurgency (as an example, that was the completely wrong assumption by many of our senior leaders on Iraq, although I acknowledge the two cases are drastically different) and I also disagree with any argument that compares the Soviet occupation with our current one. We operate differently than the Soviets on so many levels that comparing us to them is often irrevelant and misleading. It is however, helpful to study some of the tactical lessons to be learned from a study of that conflict in preparation for a deployment to Afghanistan (which I am doing now) such as The Bear Went Over the Mountain, The Other Side of the Mountain, or Not A Good Day to Die.
2. I fundamentally disagree with his statement, " a war for which our leaders, uniformed, civilian and elected, have inadequately prepared and resourced our men and women." Pretty bold statement to put out there without citing any evidence.
Now I have to go back to my CGSC reading and take home exam questions.
Ryan D. Seagreaves
MAJ, AR
CGSC Student
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