Results tagged “Marines”
HELMAND - Residents of Helmand, the southern Afghanistan province that the US Marines are currently storming in their biggest operation since Fallujah 2004, knew this was coming. I just returned with Anup Kaphle from a short trip there and observed not only a highly fragile, Taliban-friendly land, but also one being steadily and conspicuously stocked with men and materiel, and prepared for an invasion like the one now underway.
Read MoreKARMAH - Lt. Peter Brooks, the infantry officer at the base I wrote about a few days ago, flattered me with an invitation to speak to his Marines. Brooks teaches an SAT class, and he wanted me tell them about good writing. I was nervous. I have never taught anyone anything. I did, however, remember the description Kurt Vonnegut, a veteran teacher of writing, gave of his job: he said each student had a spool of paper lodged at the base of his tongue. All Vonnegut had to do was gently open the student's mouth, pull the end of the paper out little by little, and sit with the student see what was written on it.
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