Beautiful read, Paul! As one with literally a gray beard now, I can identify the concept you were using from Pashtun culture. It is not just “know your enemy as you know yourself” in Sun Tzu, but know the world, learn, be open to understanding new ideas and cultures. But at the same time be true to core principles and ideals.
So many live in a false narrative of “victimization and powerlessness and insecurity” and these have been exploited by Russian narrative operations. We need to turn that narrative around into “I have agency, I can do this, I will succeed” but also in a realistic manner. Impart that is what everybody wants to be recognized for…simple human dignity that allows people the opportunity in the US context. No technology can make that change…it is about making it a compelling and attractive narrative about who we are as a people, within our families and the values our forefathers tried to instill in us.
Thank you Pau or should I say, ‘Grey Beard?” Yes, adopting a can do attitude which is ironically, what I consider to be a former core element of US identity, is a big part of the answer. The hard part is to reestablish our former patriotic elements, in those conned into believing in the FOX News/ MAGA fake version (s). Too bad that the DNC and other parts of the resistance don’t get this. I’d love to address this with all of them, but apparently when the DNC especially isn’t in hiding, they aren’t listening to anyone else either. Like the rest of our history, we “citizen” soldier/ patriots, we will have to do this ourselves.
Thanks Paul for finding story to explain narrative warfare/strategy.. I have struggled with its concept as it is not a familiar concept to me. In your telling of your story I feel a window into understanding. For that I thank you for the deeper story that brings it into a reality I can begin to comprehend.
First, I tried to “like” your comment but apparently there is a small tech glitch this morning at Substack. It won’t work on my phone, Ipad or laptop.
You are spot on regarding the overt and ongoing failure within the US national security community. It is in my opinion, the single most serious threat to the nation and our allies at this time. We cannot exist nor sustain our republic on mis/ disinformation alone, which is the administration’s intention. Media plays along with this as well, even some of the previously better reporting news agencies like Reuters and the BBC. Lately I tend to default to things like the Associated Press, USA today and the networks, for good reporting, outside of professional journals, specific reporters and credible foreign press other than the BBC.
Yes, Trump took all of Putin’s, Xi’s and Modi’s bait and now, these three are unifying in their resistance to Trump and Republican agendas. If he continues his ignorant and greedy foreign policy, the US and NATO are in deep trouble, especially since these insurrectionists running our government have given away, much of our national security expertise and intelligence. We are professionally speaking, exceptionally vulnerable.
Beautiful read, Paul! As one with literally a gray beard now, I can identify the concept you were using from Pashtun culture. It is not just “know your enemy as you know yourself” in Sun Tzu, but know the world, learn, be open to understanding new ideas and cultures. But at the same time be true to core principles and ideals.
So many live in a false narrative of “victimization and powerlessness and insecurity” and these have been exploited by Russian narrative operations. We need to turn that narrative around into “I have agency, I can do this, I will succeed” but also in a realistic manner. Impart that is what everybody wants to be recognized for…simple human dignity that allows people the opportunity in the US context. No technology can make that change…it is about making it a compelling and attractive narrative about who we are as a people, within our families and the values our forefathers tried to instill in us.
Thank you Pau or should I say, ‘Grey Beard?” Yes, adopting a can do attitude which is ironically, what I consider to be a former core element of US identity, is a big part of the answer. The hard part is to reestablish our former patriotic elements, in those conned into believing in the FOX News/ MAGA fake version (s). Too bad that the DNC and other parts of the resistance don’t get this. I’d love to address this with all of them, but apparently when the DNC especially isn’t in hiding, they aren’t listening to anyone else either. Like the rest of our history, we “citizen” soldier/ patriots, we will have to do this ourselves.
All my best
Thanks Paul for finding story to explain narrative warfare/strategy.. I have struggled with its concept as it is not a familiar concept to me. In your telling of your story I feel a window into understanding. For that I thank you for the deeper story that brings it into a reality I can begin to comprehend.
First, I tried to “like” your comment but apparently there is a small tech glitch this morning at Substack. It won’t work on my phone, Ipad or laptop.
You are spot on regarding the overt and ongoing failure within the US national security community. It is in my opinion, the single most serious threat to the nation and our allies at this time. We cannot exist nor sustain our republic on mis/ disinformation alone, which is the administration’s intention. Media plays along with this as well, even some of the previously better reporting news agencies like Reuters and the BBC. Lately I tend to default to things like the Associated Press, USA today and the networks, for good reporting, outside of professional journals, specific reporters and credible foreign press other than the BBC.
Yes, Trump took all of Putin’s, Xi’s and Modi’s bait and now, these three are unifying in their resistance to Trump and Republican agendas. If he continues his ignorant and greedy foreign policy, the US and NATO are in deep trouble, especially since these insurrectionists running our government have given away, much of our national security expertise and intelligence. We are professionally speaking, exceptionally vulnerable.
Thanks for your very good input.
Clare, thanks for the “Ground News” tip. I will try it out. Good sources are becoming as rare as those animals, plants and ecosystems
on environmental “endangered lists.”