Military Communications: Recruiting and Retention Errors

Jason Criss Howk 12 October 2022 Coming up 20,000 soldiers short in the recruiting effort this year should be a bigger story than it is. While leaders can shuffle strength numbers and modify the needs, the real story is that our military is not communicating well with this generation. I have been teaching the new… Read More Military Communications: Recruiting and Retention Errors

Building An “Air Force” That Can Fight Anywhere/Anytime

By Jason Criss Howk 29 June 2022 Submission to the 2022 Irregular Warfare Essay Competition Near the end of April 2022, the UK’s top diplomat, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, called-out other nation’s timid responses to Russian atrocities by stating, “this is a time for courage, not caution.” She urged nations to support the Ukrainians with… Read More Building An “Air Force” That Can Fight Anywhere/Anytime

Why It Is Hard to Make America More Tolerant of Muslims

Jason Criss Howk Veterans Day 2021 Authors note: This article is 6 years in the making at this point. In it I highlight my journey from an Infantry paratrooper who had never really known a Muslim before (that I knew of) to an interfaith leader who specializes in helping American non-Muslims to understand Islamic cultures.… Read More Why It Is Hard to Make America More Tolerant of Muslims

Afghanistan: When Was Someone Supposed to Fall on Their Sword?

Jason Criss Howk 13 September 2021 The US and NATO-plus coalition policy towards Afghanistan and Pakistan never matched the outcomes the 50-plus nations assisting Afghans sought. I wondered on September 11th 2021 if there was a moment when a senior leader in Afghanistan, NATO, or CENTCOM should have resigned in protest for this fatal flaw,… Read More Afghanistan: When Was Someone Supposed to Fall on Their Sword?

The United States Must Airdrop Aid to the Blockaded Regions of Afghanistan

Guest column by Said Sabir Ibrahimi 8 September 2021 With the Afghan economy is on the verge of collapse, the United Nations has warned that half of the population in Afghanistan needs humanitarian aid. While the U.S. military’s combat operations in Afghanistan have come to an end, Washington haspledged to remain engaged with the country through diplomacy, development, and humanitarian aid. After the sudden collapse of the U.S.-backed government on August 15, 2021, the Taliban swiftly seized 33… Read More The United States Must Airdrop Aid to the Blockaded Regions of Afghanistan

CNN Interview Transcript: Afghanistan

17 August 2021 Transcript from 16 August 2021 interview with CNN 1022hrs EST US Reporters: Poppy Harlow and Jim Sciutto Guest: Jason Criss Howk, Afghanistan veteran (2002 and later) who was an insider for various US/NATO Afghan policy discussions during the Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden administrations. (*note this is not a word-for-word transcript but… Read More CNN Interview Transcript: Afghanistan

Response to Biden Statement: Still Time to Do the Right Thing

Jason,Criss Howk 14 August 2021 Today President Biden secured his place on the list of world leaders that chose to do the immoral thing when so many are telling him to do the right thing. Biden has chosen to go against the military advice, and humanitarian advice of so many experts to abandon a steadfast… Read More Response to Biden Statement: Still Time to Do the Right Thing

The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Should Talk AND Fight

4 March 2021 Jason Criss Howk “I think it’s crucial to discard these simple theories/labels and study the more nuanced approaches to achieving peace. If I had to be categorized, I would fall mostly into the talk AND fight approach to bring about Afghanistan security building. Let’s unpack that view…” To read more go to… Read More The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Should Talk AND Fight