Fireside Chats, Episode 87: Army Man

Ghost Wars by Steve Coll provides amazing insight on the CIA, Afghanistan and Pakistan for the time between the soviet invasion and 9-10-2001.

Beau Birkholz

I’ll make sure to reach out the next time I’m traveling that way. Mike mentioned the many to one relationship between support and trigger pullers. There’s an interesting discussion on the why and how of all that support. Armorer servicing his weapon, mechanic maintaining his vehicle, intel providing his targets, medevac keeping him in the golden hour, etc. The shaft behind the tip of the spear is long and wide (innuendos intended).

Beau Birkholz

Finally gotten the time to listen to this, and it was well worth the wait. Excellent discussion and great, first-hand insight. Regardless as to my level of agreement (or that of any of your listeners), as you said, these are conversations that need to happen, and I'm so glad that this is this outlet where minds are open enough to let these conversations happen.

Zach Brown

Thank you!

Zachary Wellman

So it seems. Terrifying either way.

Andrew Hoculik

Hey! The RSS feed has been broken for some. All you've gotta do is copy and paste the RSS link from the CLS Patreon front page and that should do the trick. DM if you have any further issues!

Colin Moriarty

Guess we're gonna find out! I'd bet Iran, though. =)

Colin Moriarty

Thanks, homie! Hope you're well.

Colin Moriarty

Would love to have you on the show, if you're ever in LA. =)

Colin Moriarty

Thank you!

Colin Moriarty

Are we still using the format feed to get exclusive episodes? Or should we just use this app? I haven’t had anything new in my podcast app since April.

Zachary Wellman

I really hope the unknown place Mike is gearing up to go to is not Venezuela....

Andrew Hoculik

Wow! I loved this episode. When Mike talked about his oath to defend the Constitution, I literally said, "Fuck yeah!" Out loud. He's a man after my own heart and I love hearing other service members talking this way. Like I said the Constitution is our highest loyalty and that makes the military itself one of the greatest checks and balances. Great talk. Great guest. Stay safe on deployment Mike!

Mikey

The book goes into detail on the US history with al qeada from Jimmy Carter to Bill Clinton. It makes the case against the fighting with the taliban and building up a state that entrances the US. This has resulted in the taliban now having peace talks for Afgahnistan. I really recommend the book as it describes how the whole war could have been avoided. Hope you have a chance to read it.

Joshua

As a veteran, there were times it felt like “Mike” had been a bit black and white about US operations abroad. But then he and I had different roles on our deployments.

Beau Birkholz

Just finished listening to this episode. Very very interesting. Loved hearing Mike’s take. Great job!

Trent Miller

I'm down to change my mind on Afghanistan. My contention is that going in makes sense and was the only real answer. But I think, in hindsight, we should have done so with way more force and been way more adversarial, frankly, in achieving our goals there. We would be long out of there if they went hard in the paint when they had the chance.

Colin Moriarty

Really liked the episode and wish it went on longer. Foreign policy is something that doesn't get much time or depth on many news shows. You said during the episode that Afghanistan is that one just wars you agree with. I recommend Scott Horton's book "Fools Errand". It makes the opposite argument by using history, strategy, and reports from soldiers and reporters in Afghanistan. It might change your mind on the war. I would also recommend Scott Hortons podcast. It is an anti war interview show that has on many interesting guest from reporters/journalist, ex-soldiers, whistle blowers and ex-intelligence. It covers Yemen, Syria, Afgahnistan, Venenzuela, Russiagate, Iran, and general American foreign policy. He also has good appearances in other podcast like Tom Woods (show that you were also on) and Dave Smith's Part of the Problem.

Joshua

Thanks for listening, Sean!

Colin Moriarty

Thank you.

Colin Moriarty

Thank you so much!

Colin Moriarty

I hope y'all can connect!

Colin Moriarty

<3

Colin Moriarty

Wall of text. That said, valid.

Colin Moriarty

I'm so glad to hear that!

Colin Moriarty

Thank you. <3

Colin Moriarty

I'll say!

Colin Moriarty

I hope you enjoy!

Colin Moriarty

That's all valid, but the point is, I'd fight for my country if it was being literally stolen away from me, even if it cost me my life.

Colin Moriarty

I was listening to this playing Video Games (FF14). I felt stupid because I was playing Video Games. Man speaking of putting the world / world view in perspective.... We don't need to agree on everything said here BUT we can agree that this was one of the most significant chats you ever had. (Note for context: I consider my self having had a difficult upbringing. So hearing stories like this from people a similar age as mine, always hit me with significant impact.) Thank you for sharing!

German Efficiency

Great episode and great guest.

David Gotwald

Incredible episode - thank you both for this one.

Solid post. Worth reading and thinking about. Thanks.

Hello Colin and "Mike", great podcast! I was pondering about posting this, because I almost never read long posts, therefore, I don't tend to write long posts. But I feel like I need to. I see both of you have the same opinion about Syrian and other refugees not going back to fight to free their countries, and I feel like you both came up with a great idea to solve this issue that no one talked about. Being a naturalized american citizen, I had the opportunity (and privilege) to interact with people from many countries / cultures, including refugees from Syria, Pakistan, Jordan, etc. The situation is pretty much standard: they love their country, they would do anything to see their countries free and prosper. But the most important thing for everyone is their family safety. If an adult male or female in fighting shape goes to their government and offer help, one of two things will happen: 1) they are so broke that the government will say "here's a stick and a frying pan, go fight those AK47 holding, well-trained soldiers or; 2) the government will think they are plotting against them and imprison (or kill) them and their entire family. I understand your position about refugees, but keep in mind if you offer to help America fight a war, the government will give you every single tool you need to suceeed. With that said, I bet my ENTIRE $10 in my checking account that, if you ask any refugee, that if their host country (USA, Germany, Australia, or any other) offers to keep their familiy safe, educated, and fed (while working and being useful, of course) while they get trained and weaponized to go back to their countries and fight against the regime or terrorism, 99 out of 100 would say "where do I sign?". They would do anything for their families well-being, even give their own lives. I can go on and on with many examples of immigrants or refugees and what would they do for a shot at peace and safety. But I guess I'll stop here for now. Best regards, Lucas Gremista

Lucas Gremista

Former 11B here. Very relatable chat. Reach out sometime, ‘Mike’. I’m sure we will be in the very same place at some point over the next few years. Glad to have ya represent us here!

AjackPilot

Great podcast......and Mike Honcho if you see this thank you for you story

Steve

I have to echo a few others and say that I enjoyed this episode tremendously. If it's not the best 'Chat to date, it's got to be Top 3. I've got a few notes: 1 - I do truly appreciate anyone who serves in the military, but I am particularly sensitive and reverent of those who have endured combat. If it were up to me, Vets should be able to walk into any medical provider they choose and the bill gets sent right to the VA. The VA's only function should be making Vets life easier; emotionally, administratively and financially. PERIOD. I don't care what it costs. IF we're going to constantly rack up debt, Vets should be the first to benefit from our willingness to just spend like the bill's never coming due. 2 - Colin, your isolationist mentality concerns me. That was the national mentality that let Nazi Germany do a lot of what it did in WW2. 3 - Colin, your feelings about refugees. A number of times you stated what you would do in their circumstances, but it is a classic mistake to assume you would be who you are in someone else's shoes OR that other people are operating from the same base of mental, emotional, social and/or other resources you are. Of course you would "regroup" and return to fight. 1st, you were raised in an amazing family that nurtured a wonderfully resourceful and strong character and 2nd, where you come from there's a lot worth fighting for. So many people in 3rd World countries are raised in a psychology of oppression and powerlessness and have little to nothing worth fighting for geographically speaking. As long as they're not being actively murdered or tortured it's easier for them to stay where they are, but once terror and war are introduced, they're just running for their lives and there's really nothing where they were that was worth fighting for... especially if they managed to get their living family out with them. IN SHORT - here in the US the psychology that is cultivated is that anything is possible, but in other places, the psychology is one of little to nothing is possible. 4 - I do wish we could pull back our soldiers, but once we've destabilized a region I think we have a responsibility to help stabilize it and try to ensure that whatever reason brought us there is addressed so it doesn't come up again. Stabilizing and uplifting through providing security is one thing, but also helping with education, economic guidance etc. 5 - Colin, all this talk of "how is it my problem..." we're all connected. If we leave people out in the cold they'll either freeze to death or come for us. Neither of those are Ok with me. What would be better than waiting for some horror to respond to is if the 1st World Nations did some problem solving and developed pro-active global uplift outreach. Obviously it can't be forced, but we could reach out quietly and privately to governments that struggle to achieve economic and social stability and help those governments develop initiatives they can execute themselves. That's probably a pipe dream this century... but I still think that's what it should be.

Really enjoyed this episode.

Blair Sutton

Boy I looooooove real military/foreign affairs talks. I need it. Give me more, Colin. Great episode 👍

Elijah VanderSande

Great episode Colin. Mike is the same age as me, it's wild to thing how different our lives are.

David Thomas

As an Intelligence Officer, I'm really excited to listen to this episode.

Beau Birkholz

I think you are misunderstanding the situation in Syria to an extent. Part of the reason there is so much trouble there is DIRECTLY because of US actions. If you were living in your country peacefully and another country pushed an army into yours which caused total chaos and civil war through no fault of your own I dont really think you would feel like fighting and dieing. Plus as obviously you know its not a straight forward 1 v 1. There is a whole grey area of fighters as well which again, America armed. Whats the point in going to fight if the US seems hell bent on destabilisingthe region anyway. What is there to go back to now anyway, there is hardly anything left. I know I would much prefer in that situation just to get the fuck lol. Imo the US in this instance should clear up the mess it made by arming any wanna be rebel against Asad.

Scott MacLure

It's always good to question one's perspectives!

Colin Moriarty

Thanks for listening!

Colin Moriarty

He's certainly welcome back anytime.

Colin Moriarty

Thank you!

Colin Moriarty

Very cool! <3

Colin Moriarty

Thank you!

Colin Moriarty

Fascinating episode. The Syria conversation in particular made me question my own perspectives on the issue.

Red March

He’ll of an episode guys. Mr. Honcho if you read this thank you for your service and the candid conversation about it. Great great episode.

Chad Lewis

This was a really standout episode. Honcho was so well spoken, I would love to hear him on again.

Brandon Hardman

LOVED this episode, and as always, love hearing you talk politics 👍🏼

Ethan Barbee

Great episode, I am proud to share the Fireside Chat alumni table with Mike, and it’s been a pleasure being his friend through his deployments over the last several years. I sent him a Vita game to help him kill time on one of them, and this summer I’m flying out to buy him the beer I promised to buy him if he got home safe from his most recent one 👍

Marc Boggio

This may be the best episode of Fireside Chats yet, Colin. Good stuff!

WalknTalknStvnHawkn

Oh my.

Colin Moriarty

Thank you. <3

Colin Moriarty

That's very high praise. Thank you so much!

Colin Moriarty

Thank you!

Colin Moriarty

The world is indeed tiny.

Colin Moriarty

Thanks for listening!

Colin Moriarty

This was a great listen.

Connor Rhude

This is without a doubt one of the best Fireside Chats you’ve done to date

Craig Carter

Fellow 11B over here, though I got out 11 years ago. Nice chat gentlemen. :)

four24twenty

Crazy. 28 year old listener from Beaumont, TX here. 😂

WalknTalknStvnHawkn

Very interesting episode. Thanks!

Keith W

I heard Mike Honcho pulled his butt cheeks apart for Playgirl magazine

Richard Kikuchi