The Books that Shaped Me
Plus, the Weekly Wrap.
The Best Substack Article of the Week:
GCV’s Most Influential Books
On War - At Air Command and Staff College (ACSC), I audited an extra elective, “Understanding Clausewitz.” It was the best class I’ve ever taken. The instructor somewhat decoded this masterpiece and I instantly fell in love. It is often misquoted and misunderstood but at the same time lionized. Hell, there’s an entire cottage industry in devotion to the Prussian scholar warrior. And, of course, there is an entire cottage industry devoted to attacking his work. Regardless of where you sit on the aisle, Clausewitz’s On War is the seminal book on the West’s understanding of war.
Amusing Ourselves to Death - Neil Postman is a prophet. Period. Start with Amusing Ourselves to Death and then go to Technopoly, and you will quickly realise that this man basically called the rise of Trump in the mid-80s.
, eat your heart out.
Diplomacy - Henry Kissenger’s magnum opus is one of my all time favs. A young, 16 year old GCV devoured this book (no, I didn’t have a girlfriend in high school). It’s quite possibly the best diplomatic history book, but also a very sober reminder of the importance of power politics, even if you often disagree with the realist school of thought.
The Revolt of the Public - If you want to understand the rise of the Trump movement, go read this book immediately. It’s succinctly written, Gurri is a former CIA analyst, and it shows in this immensely enjoyable book.
Ordinary Men - IMHO, every American high school student should read this book before graduating to remember: don’t think this can’t happen here too.
The Weekly Wrap
Russia's Embrace of the Taliban
In a move that raises serious alarm bells across global security circles, a Russian court has officially removed the Taliban from its list of banned terrorist organizations. This is not just a legal maneuver — it’s a geopolitical signal, and a dangerous one at that.
Ambassador Edelman on Turkey
Grumpy Combat Veteran welcomes Ambassador Eric Edelman to the show. The two The Bulwark contributors discuss Turkey, Syria, Israel, Ukraine, and whole lot more. Grumpy Combat Veteran is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Another Veteran Kills Themselves at a VA Hospital
Over the last seven days, while America was doing whatever navel gazing it tends to do, another veteran killed himself in front of a Texas VA hospital.
How to Fix Recruitment
I love officers. They’re my favorite people. Yes, I know. I was an officer. As my favorite CMSgt…
Double Betrayal
Aziz Rahmani—my cousin, known as “Junaid,” or simply “Jun” to the Americans—always wore a big, open-hearted smile. He stood tall, brimming with pride each time he donned his interpreter vest and stepped into a U.S. military Humvee. “I’m fighting for both my countries,” he would say: “the one…
How to Thrive During a Death Threat
Hello everyone, as some of you may have heard, I’ve been living under a rather poorly constructed, amateurish death threat from a business “associate.”
The Lancaster Stabbing Victim Speaks Out
My name is Ahmadullah. I am not just a victim of a brutal attack—I am a father, a servant of peace, and a man who risked everything to stand with the United States in the hope of building a better world. I write this for myself and my five young daughters—for their safety, dreams, and future.
The Prisoner Who Came Back to Kill
One of the key facilitators of the Abbey Gate attack was Mohammad Sharifullah. He was arrested in 2019 by the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) for his involvement in ISKP operations. He remained in Bagram Prison until the morning of August 15, 2021.
I Have an Active Death Threat
It’s late, and I’m not very tired. This is how this little thing started only a year ago, so everyone, once in a while, I’m just going to jump on this little thing here and give it a go.
Shawn VanDiver Should Step Aside
Let me start by saying I’ve thought this for a very, very long time. Please, anyone can ask Kate K about this. I have long believed that Shawn VanDiver was an honorable veteran who probably sincerely loved the cause of Afghanistan.
EMERGENCY PODCAST: TRUMP TO FUCK OVER AFGHANS (AGAIN)?
Grumpy Combat Veteran has had a rough week—Bucky Boy RIP—but now the Trump administration reportedly will end Temporary Protective Status for Afghans.
Our Friends
The Future
IMHO, the Afghan refugee movement needs to start creating news. We’re losing our ability to sway the Trump administration—and thus everything should be on the table. Hell, maybe I should stop writing about it? I’m open to suggestions. In the end, this is about the Afghans. Not us. It’s about the Afghans—and it always has been about them, for fuck’s sake.