Very informative, actually shockingly informative DV fleshing out some very good reasons to be completely depressed about the prognosis for any sort of meaningful progress in Afghanistan. A little bit of a drag that we had to wait 11 days to hear this one, especially given a number of tedious-beyond-belief DVs which were holding it back. I really like both of these guys and would love to see them back both together and separately. BJ's idea of an Ackerman DV together with a supposed big-picture guy looking at the whole mid-east and south-asia mess--yeah, that would be enough to engender terminal pessimism alright. EW

I hope no one takes the small number of comments here as a signal that this is not a great divalog. It is very informative and well done. Perhaps the collapse of civilization has something to do with the lack of commentors today.

Quoting Eastwest: Very informative, actually shockingly informative DV fleshing out some very good reasons to be completely depressed about the prognosis for any sort of meaningful progress in Afghanistan.

Oh, good, glad to hear it. Now I have something to look forward to.

Quoting Eastwest: A little bit of a drag that we had to wait 11 days to hear this one, especially given a number of tedious-beyond-belief DVs which were holding it back.

There's not actually any evidence that any of those other diavlogs held this one back, is there?

Quoting Eastwest: I really like both of these guys and would love to see them back both together and separately.

I would like to second that. Both have good blogs, too: — Attackerman
— Lawyers, Guns, and Money

Quoting Eastwest: BJ's idea of an Ackerman DV together with a supposed big-picture guy looking at the whole mid-east and south-asia mess--yeah, that would be enough to engender terminal pessimism alright.

It's a great idea as long as Bob can keep right wing lunatics out of the picture. We don't need to hear from them; they already dominate all other media. How about making Juan Cole a regular? How about Bob and Juan every two weeks? There must be dozens of qualified experts

This diavlog was terrible, it did not feature two jackasses lobbing partisan talking points at each other.

I think some of the usual suspects are hoping Ms. Hurlburt is otherwise occupied with a new job soon. Otherwise, more agreement here on the good diavlog. Unfortunately, the completely downbeat take on Afgan conditions is consistent with other reports from folks who have spent time there.

This is fantastic content. Thanks Spencer. You have xtra large huevos to spend as much time in such places as you do. And Farley was an excellent interlocutor.

Quoting TwinSwords: I would like to second that. Both have good blogs, too:

— Attackerman
— Lawyers, Guns, and Money

Second the blogs recommendation, especially LGM.

Maybe Heather Hurlbert should be given her own show like Free Will, and she could interview a different foreign policy expert every week.

I like that idea, too.

Quoting ohcomeon: I hope no one takes the small number of comments here as a signal that this is not a great divalog. It is very informative and well done. Perhaps the collapse of civilization has something to do with the lack of commentors today.

There does seem to be an inverse correlation between the number of comments and the quality of the diavlogs, doesn't there? For myself, anyway, it's often hard to think of something useful to contribute when I get as much new information as I do in diavlogs like this. It's easier to bicker about the horse race.

Yeah, alot of the best vlogs (like UN, Sci Sat) often leave me somewhat speechless. Haven't watched this one yet, but definitely will.

Wow, is this the most facial-hair we have ever witnessed on BHTV?!!

Quoting uncle ebeneezer: Wow, is this the most facial-hair we have ever witnessed on BHTV?!!

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Quoting TwinSwords:

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OK, OK... Your smilies are much better...

Yeah, and on a more serious note, this was a great diavlog. Special thanks to Spencer for going out into a region that I certainly wouldn't want to find myself in, in order to help inform the public in greater detail of what's going on over there. We often praise the brave military, for their service, and they deserve it. But we rarely applaud the journalists who put themselves very near to harms way for another noble mission...keeping the public informed. Kudos to Spencer, Eli and all the other journalists who provide this invaluable service.

Please, UN Plaza guys, discuss the nuclear pact with India the US Senate is about to approve. This major bipartisan disaster is going to slip in under the radar while everyone is frantic with the economic crisis and the electoral campaign.

any diavlog containing this snip: "...so, the jingle truck drivers tell the human terrain team..." is okay by me!

NYT reporter Dexter Filkins gave an Authors @ Google talk yesterday to discuss his new book The Forever War, which is based on his reporting from Afghanistan and Iraq. The talk is now available on YouTube. I've just started watching, so no firm recommendation yet, but so far, so good. Bob: if Dexter out pimping his book, perhaps he would like to do a diavlog?

Quoting Ocean: OK, OK... Your smilies are much better...

All your smilies are belong to me! But, yeah, the BHTV selection is pretty poor...

Obama and Biden supported upgrading India's rogue nuclear program, continuing the Bush Doctrine into the next generation. Thanks to our the following Senators for brave opposition to pro-nuke leadership: Akaka (D-HI)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Boxer (D-CA)
Brown (D-OH)
Byrd (D-WV)
Conrad (D-ND)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Feingold (D-WI)
Harkin (D-IA)
Leahy (D-VT)
Reed (D-RI)
Sanders (I-VT)
Whitehouse (D-RI)