Jason Thomas
Jason Thomas worked alongside US forces in Afghanistan in 2009-2010 and in 2011 with the USMC in Helmand and is preparing to return in early 2012. He has also worked in the Civil War area in Sri Lanka, negotiating with the Tamil Tigers and South Sudan. He is undertaking his PhD on home grown terrorism through Curtin University.
Articles by Jason Thomas
Mali could become the new Afghanistan, only worse
France’s military intervention into its former North African colony of Mali, dubbed Operation Serval, could become another Afghanistan if France…... Read more
Explosions will still rock Afghanistan after we leave
The spate of so called ‘green-on-blue’ attacks, where members of the Afghan National Security Forces kill Coalition soldiers, has been…... Read more
We must be very clear what we’re doing in Afghanistan
The death of five Australian soldiers in Afghanistan demands that the Australian Government remind the public why we are there,…... Read more
We’re there to fight terror, not Taliban atrocities
The statement by Australian Foreign Affairs Minister, Senator Bob Carr, that the public execution of an Afghan woman by the…... Read more
We’ve lost the battle for hearts and minds
The murder of 16 Afghan civilians by a lone US soldier in Afghanistan this week is a tragic incident, which…... Read more
In Afghanistan trust no one and question everything
In yet another attack by a ‘rogue’ Afghan soldier, four French troops were shot dead last week. Proponents of the…... Read more
Strength, not kindness, will win Afghan hearts & minds
Australian Soldiers are the strongest tribe in Uruzgan Province and it is this profile that wins hearts and minds in…... Read more
Terror: Coming to a leafy suburb near you
The death of Osama Bin Laden will make no difference to global terrorism inspired by Islamic fundamentalism, and it will…... Read more
Our politically correct war in Afghanistan
From working with U.S forces in Afghanistan, many Commanders observed how Afghanistan had become a politically correct war. Ralph Peters…... Read more
We’ve got the watches, they’ve got the time
A common saying in Afghanistan is “we’ve got the watches they’ve got the time.” A perfect metaphor to describe the…... Read more
Our leaders have no idea how to “win” in Afghanistan
The Australian public are being fed a one dimensional view of Afghanistan by both sides of politics that is misleading…... Read more
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I have had some close calls, one that involved what looked to me like an AK47 pointed my way, followed…
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In a world in which there are still people who subscribe to the vile notion that certain victims of sexual…
Nosebleed Section
choice ringside rantings
From: Hasbro, go straight to gaol, do not pass go
Tim says:
They should update other things in the game too. Instead of a get out of jail free card, they should have a Dodgy Lawyer card that not only gets you out of jail straight away but also gives you a fat payout in compensation for daring to arrest you in the first place. Instead of getting a hotel when you… [read more]From: A guide to summer festivals especially if you wouldn’t go
Kel says:
If you want a festival for older people or for families alike, get amongst the respectable punters at Bluesfest. A truly amazing festival experience to be had of ALL AGES. And all the young "festivalgoers" usually write themselves off on the first night, only to never hear from them again the rest of… [read more]Gentle jabs to the ribs
Superman needs saving
Can somebody please save Superman? He seems to be going through a bit of a crisis. Eighteen months ago,… Read more
