I deployed to Afghanistan in 2012 as a Civil Affairs Team Leader in Mazer-e Sharif. I patrolled the rural Afghan villages of Chimtal and Chahar Bolak, leading reconstruction projects in these communities during a time I thought was the twilight of the war. I was wrong about the war coming to an end, now an ongoing two-decade conflict and by far the longest in U.S. history.
I returned to Afghanistan in 2016, this time as the commander of a small detachment of Army Reserve Soldiers from Arizona conducting intelligence operations in support of counter-terrorism operations throughout the country.
When the New York Times reported that Russia was paying Taliban fighters to kill American soldiers I was not surprised. Sadly, I was also not surprised to learn that President Trump and the White House’s National Security Council have done nothing in response.
Russia is our adversary, virtually every elected member of Congress agrees on that. We can’t trust them, and we know they want to undermine our democracy. That’s why Congress sanctioned Russia for meddling in the 2016 election.
Congress, in the House and the Senate, needs to conduct a full investigation to understand the breakdowns at the highest level of our government that have failed to protect American troops serving overseas.
Martha McSally, a fellow veteran who was appointed to the late John McCain’s U.S. Senate seat, was asked about the New York Times report earlier this week, and her response was shocking and offensive.
McSally told the Arizona Republic “ I’m just concerned about the leaking here and the politicization of it.”
The leaking? The politicization?
Senator McSally, how about you show some concern for your brothers and sisters in combat who are putting their lives on the line to create a safer world? How about you show some anger over a president and an administration who will turn a blind eye to naked aggression from a nation you yourself have called one of America’s top adversaries? How about you recognize that as a U.S. Senator you have the power to do something about it? Stand up to the President and call for the Senate investigation.
As someone trained in the collection, analysis, and reporting of intelligence I know what goes into corroborating information before briefing a commander. To make it into the president’s daily brief, information must be deemed urgent and credible. The Commander in Chief and his National Security Council had this information and took no action.
I’m disappointed that Martha McSally is putting her political allies above the safety of American troops—the men and women that she served with. She should spend her Fourth of July weekend thinking about why she wants to serve Arizonans in the first place, what it means to defend democracy, and her oath to defend the Constitution against all foreign enemies.
Aaron Marquez is a member of the Individual Ready Reserve. The views expressed here are those of him only and not those of the Department of Defense.
This article appears in Jul 2-8, 2020.
Because you went to Afghanistan doesn’t make you a hero. Hiding in the rear and avoiding conflict makes you a REMF! McSally engaged the enemy and defended the ground troops under attack while you made sure their community affairs were in order. I’m sure you are a hero in your own mind!
I would never salute you, no matter your rank!
Sad. Not one conspiracy nutjob here could say one single word for our troops being targeted. The man who wrote this did 2 tours and all you could do is denigrate him. If this country falls, look in a mirror jokers and see the reason staring you in the face. The democrats will have to clean up this mess while the GOP ponders running clowns like Kanye and Tucker for president. The troops deserve better than what the “We support the Troops” party offers them. Much better.
Martha McSally is following in her mentor’s (#45) footsteps. Ignore anything except what #45 wants to spew, including disregarding Russian bounties on US service members down range. Don’t wait for her to find any ethics or backbone; not going to happen.
Juan are you trolling or do you truly believe the words you wrote? Why so disrespectful? What have you done? Did you bust in there Rambo style and give Bush reason to hoist the Mission Accomplished flag oh so prematurely? If McSally was such a war hero herself why is she giving such a dismissive response? Yes, shame on Aaron for helping rebuild communities. What a jerk! He should have been posing with innocents being brutally tortured in Abu Ghraib like Megan Ambuhl and Charles Graner right? Are they heroes to you too?
Juan Valdez, aka Cabeza de CaKa, you are so far from the truth that is is laughable. First, there is no real front or rear in Afghanistan, there is only constant danger and the risk of being killed or wounded. Maybe if you had been there, you’d know. Second, I take away nothing from Sen. McSally’s tour and her accomplishments, but she was USAF and a flyer. She was not boots on the ground ducking a round. So don’t even go there with that lie. Thirdly, Aaron’s jobs did NOT make him a REMF, as there was no rear, and he had to go from village to village talking to the very people who might have just planted IEDs. You have no knowledge, but a big mouth. Every American should be angry about Russia putting bounties on American troops, not angry that the intel came out. If you are NOT angry, either you didn’t serve, you don’t care about the lives of American troops, or you are a fool.
Sorry 2010.
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/39014669/ns/world_news-south_and_central_asia/t/report-iran-pays-each-us-soldier-killed-taliban/#.XwNZkuGHu70
Well, we all know Martha McSilly is a Trumpbot, so the headline is a rhetorical question at best. And there are plenty of reasons to get rid of Tchump that have nothing to do with anti-Russian hysteria.
The historical fact is that a lot of what intelligence agencies say about Russia (for decades) (for a century) are flat-out lies with no supporting evidence whatsoever. Intelligence agencies routinely manipulate the media (and politicians) to get what they want. It’s part of their job. Anyone who pays any attention to such things knows this for a fact, which includes NY Times editors. Yet they willingly let themselves get played over and over.
https://fair.org/home/in-russian-bounty-st…
It’s shameful that corporate media masters publish such hysterical nonsense with no corroboration or evidence, and it’s embarrassing that Dumbocrats naively fall for this shtick and lap up this blather. There are better ways to get rid of Tchump than pretending that violent, lying, anti-democratic intelligence agencies are paragons of virtue. Gimme a break.
Mc sqealy is riding 1 trick pony in this coming election, but, it’s a broken down, racist, nation dividing, felonious, Traitor. She is going to Swirl Down the Swampy Drain right behind him.
Haters of our US military men and women by supporters of Putin-Patsy tRump and lap dog McSally keep to their ongoing lies, divisive attacks against Veterans, Gold Star families and peaceful protesters. Not a DAMN word from McSally while she distracts with enemy China. She lost the AZ senate race and was “appointed” by “Negligent on the masks AZgov Ducey”, The shameless GOP, Impeached Trump, Pence…have made it “political” calling it a “hoax” and that it will “disappear”. They remain UNFIT TO SERVE.
Now we’re facing HIGH “REPORTED” COVIG19 CASES, INFECTION Rates (Actual rates 10-20 TIMES HIGHER) and selfish UN-AMERICAN behavior of refusing to wore masks and/or Physical Distancing false lying that it’s their right to do so?! Visit the ERs, cemeteries and talk to the families of those impacted. With a local, county, State & National COVIG19 Pandemic it’s not to be dismissed by selfish, misinformed, and/or “superspreaders”. We need free nationwide COVIG19 testing, contact tracing, isolation, quarantine and compassionate medical care and treatment for all. We need HEALTHY workers to return slowly to work and continue the UI and stimulus checks as we address a new reality. A worse economy will result after opening up too soon in critical areas. Trump’s FAILURE of a late and badly coordinated COVIG19 response left to the States from Trump…we now are suffering as the world’s worst example
Juan Valdez, I assume from your comments that you haven’t been “there,” no matter which “there” it has been for the last 30 years. If you have, my mistake, but according to your own rules, that doesn’t make you a hero. The author of this column wasn’t claiming hero status, he was merely asking why Senator McSally, at least rhetorically, seemed disinterested in what the meaning was for US service members in light of the potential bounties offered by a geopolitical rival. I think most of us (especially combat veterans) can ask that question based on current reporting. It may be that the underlying assertion is false, in which case, good on our states-men and -women for being diplomatic. If it is true, we should exact some price from the Putin regime.