American woman

[HalloIsBack]

american woman army speaking nice pashto - YouTube

[faye]

that might be siinii..... siinii, that you?

[SiiNii]

She is a Marine staff officer not Army, part of a recent program to intensively train certain US military personnel in Pashto and/or Dari for greater interoperability with Afghan forces. I don't know much about it but it sounds like a good idea and the LtCol seems like an ideal candidate (mature, experienced, educated, and female).

zma pam wa (i noticed)

Her speech sounds very heavily accented

@1:45 improperly slung carbine daga mashkara da

Why didn't they show her talking with adults? Hmm...
zma da khiyal shakman di (my thoughts are suspicious)

Its been two years I'd like to know how the tours went for her, and how her Pashto is now days. I should test her "oh me, I'm a Pashtun" game for building rapport, "salam. zma num mirwas khan hotak di, pe Arg ki ozeyzhem. delta da mreste depara raGhaliyem"

[یاسمینه]

She is a Marine staff officer not Army, part of a recent program to intensively train certain US military personnel in Pashto and/or Dari for greater interoperability with Afghan forces. I don't know much about it but it sounds like a good idea

Do you think that knowledge of Pashto/ Dari is sufficient? If you don't know the history of the country, if you don't understand the culture, if you treat this country with a sense of superiority of Western culture, you have nothing to do there. If Western countries was trying to understand Afghanistan, they would never have sent the army there.

Btw, do you think that the troops who have invaded Afghanistan have time and are willing to learn all this?

[SiiNii]

Of course they should learn the history of the country and its customs, culture. How much time would it take attain a sufficient understanding? My estimate is about 20 hrs for history of Afghanistan overall, 3 - 12 hrs regional history, 6 hours Islamic culture (incl what actions to avoid out of respect for locals), 3 hr for the history and traditions of the civilians of the area of operations (the AO), 3 hrs Pashtunwali regardless of AO, 1-5 hrs on expected enemies. This can be spread out over 3 weeks, 90 minute films like the History channel's WW2 specials, troops can watch it while they eat lunch or during gaps in the training schedule.

Btw, do you think that the troops who have invaded Afghanistan have time and are willing to learn all this?

Some are curious, others don't care... but can be forced to, after all it is the military. Support personnel confined to bases, in my experience, have plenty of time learn about Afghanistan and its people. Those that venture outside the wire generally do not have this luxury, their education should take place before deployment.

treat this country with a sense of superiority of Western culture

da yaw mohima nazarya da. It is difficult for a soldier to learn to respect a very different culture if he is set in his ways. The troops most likely to respect different cultures would be those who studied the language on their own time of their own volition, 1st / 2nd gen 'hypenated-Americans', and the university educated.

[یاسمینه]

Of course they should learn the history of the country and its customs, culture. How much time would it take attain a sufficient understanding? My estimate is about 20 hrs for history of Afghanistan overall, 3 - 12 hrs regional history, 6 hours Islamic culture (incl what actions to avoid out of respect for locals), 3 hr for the history and traditions of the civilians of the area of operations (the AO), 3 hrs Pashtunwali regardless of AO, 1-5 hrs on expected enemies. This can be spread out over 3 weeks, 90 minute films like the History channel's WW2 specials, troops can watch it while they eat lunch or during gaps in the training schedule.

I've been studying afghanology for 3 years and I have impression that it is just the beginning. Regular classes are only a part of education. There is a saying known among Orientalists "Orientalist is a self-taught or ignoramus".

Some are curious, others don't care... but can be forced to, after all it is the military. Support personnel confined to bases, in my experience, have plenty of time learn about Afghanistan and its people. Those that venture outside the wire generally do not have this luxury, their education should take place before deployment.

I would say that most don't care. I think you did read posts on different forums for former troops who were in Irak/ Afg or in other countries. Their words say all about their attitude.


da yaw mohima nazarya da. It is difficult for a soldier to learn to respect a very different culture if he is set in his ways. The troops most likely to respect different cultures would be those who studied the language on their own time of their own volition, 1st / 2nd gen 'hypenated-Americans', and the university educated.

You are partially right but I also have impression that you try to justify what soldiers do there. I still don't understand why the troops are being sent to Afghanistan? Any logical reason, apart from the fact the Afghanistan become the largest training ground where soldiers can practice and improve so-called war techniques?

[یاسمینه]

SiiNii, do you work in HTS? You sounds like that.

[SiiNii]

No I'm an ordinary soldier. HTS, I've never worked with them or heard much about them from other soldiers.

As for the mission objectives in Afghanistan you can find them on the ISAF website:
Mission | ISAF - International Security Assistance Force

[HalloIsBack]

No I'm an ordinary soldier. HTS, I've never worked with them or heard much about them from other soldiers.

As for the mission objectives in Afghanistan you can find them on the ISAF website:
Mission | ISAF - International Security Assistance Force

you are soldier

which one?

[یاسمینه]

No I'm an ordinary soldier. HTS, I've never worked with them or heard much about them from other soldiers.

As for the mission objectives in Afghanistan you can find them on the ISAF website:
Mission | ISAF - International Security Assistance Force

Yeah... I know what official versions say. Do you really believe all this?

[SiiNii]

@Yasmeenah

Yes I believe we have a responsibility to help Afghanistan with rebuilding and fighting against insurgent forces.

@Hallo
US Army

[HalloIsBack]

@Yasmeenah

Yes I believe we have a responsibility to help Afghanistan with rebuilding and fighting against insurgent forces.

@Hallo
US Army

so you are not a pashtun and muslim
that's right?

http://www.pashtunforums.com/new-members-1583-23/hello-34240/

[SiiNii]

You guys either scared away NavyDoc, or he got his wish and ended up non-deployable.

Not Pashtun, Not Muslim

[ufo973]

@Yasmeenah

Yes I believe we have a responsibility to help Afghanistan with rebuilding and fighting against insurgent forces.

@Hallo
US Army

Aren't you the same people, helped us before by creating the same taliban and alqaeda you are fighting today to use our blood to win cold war?

[HalloIsBack]

You guys either scared away NavyDoc, or he got his wish and ended up non-deployable.

Not Pashtun, Not Muslim

i don't scared him

i'm also not pashtun and muslim