Best Defense

Thomas E. Ricks' daily take on national security.

Tom’s 4 Questions for AfPak Hand Vets

These are answers from Christy Barry, who was an Air Force JAG.

A coalition force member stands on top of a hill watching a snow-covered mountain range in Kabul province, Afghanistan, March 1, 2013. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Matthew Freire)
A coalition force member stands on top of a hill watching a snow-covered mountain range in Kabul province, Afghanistan, March 1, 2013. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Matthew Freire)
A coalition force member stands on top of a hill watching a snow-covered mountain range in Kabul province, Afghanistan, March 1, 2013. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Matthew Freire)

These are answers from Christy Barry, who was an Air Force JAG:

These are answers from Christy Barry, who was an Air Force JAG:

— Are you glad you did it?  

Absolutely, but I would re-format some of the training.

— Would you do it again?  

Absolutely.

— How do you think it has affected your career?

It killed my career (tragic), but it was worth the sacrifice in some sense. And does that effect matter to you? It does matter — I left the military as a result (for both personal and professional reasons), which was a tremendously difficult decision. But from a personal perspective, I have no regrets about the AF/PAK Hands program; only the leadership that I had to work under at NTM-A/CSTC-A.

— What else should people remember about this experiment?  

Concept was spot on/execution was poor.

Photo credit: Matthew Freire/Defense Video & Imagery Distribution System

Thomas E. Ricks covered the U.S. military from 1991 to 2008 for the Wall Street Journal and then the Washington Post. He can be reached at ricksblogcomment@gmail.com. Twitter: @tomricks1

More from Foreign Policy

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping give a toast during a reception following their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 21.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping give a toast during a reception following their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 21.

Can Russia Get Used to Being China’s Little Brother?

The power dynamic between Beijing and Moscow has switched dramatically.

Xi and Putin shake hands while carrying red folders.
Xi and Putin shake hands while carrying red folders.

Xi and Putin Have the Most Consequential Undeclared Alliance in the World

It’s become more important than Washington’s official alliances today.

Russian President Vladimir Putin greets Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Russian President Vladimir Putin greets Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

It’s a New Great Game. Again.

Across Central Asia, Russia’s brand is tainted by Ukraine, China’s got challenges, and Washington senses another opening.

Kurdish military officers take part in a graduation ceremony in Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, on Jan. 15.
Kurdish military officers take part in a graduation ceremony in Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, on Jan. 15.

Iraqi Kurdistan’s House of Cards Is Collapsing

The region once seemed a bright spot in the disorder unleashed by U.S. regime change. Today, things look bleak.