The Boardwalk

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Be sure to like, follow, subscribe, rate, review, and share wherever you listen to our podcast. New episodes of The Boardwalk are published every Saturday morning.

Our Social Media Sites:

Instagram: @theboardwalkpodcast

Facebook: @TheBoardwalkPodcast

Twitter: @theboardwalkpod

You can also reach us by email at: theboardwalkpodcast@gmail.com

The views expressed by the hosts and guests of this podcast do not represent the views of the United States Government or the United States Department of Defense.

Episode 12: Hamid Karzai Jul 24, 2021

Show notes

This week we discuss all things Hamid Karzai. From his start in the pre-Taliban government and relationship with King Zahir Shah, to his eventual return and ascendancy to become president. We talk about Karzai's abilities as a politician and a statesman, as well as the consistent charges of corruption that followed throughout his administration. We also get into some of what Karzai has been up to since the end of his 2nd term and the introduction of his successor, Ashraf Ghani. Towards the beginning of this week's episode we have some exciting news about next week's episode and guests.
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Where to Listen:

Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3gbZ6ya

Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/37UuZXQ

Stitcher: https://bit.ly/3AQNadj

iHeart Radio: https://bit.ly/3y0Vfdw

Buzzsprout: https://bit.ly/37PIdoy

Be sure to like, follow, subscribe, rate, review, and share wherever you listen to our podcast. New episodes of The Boardwalk are published every Saturday morning.

Our Social Media Sites:

Instagram: @theboardwalkpodcast

Facebook: @TheBoardwalkPodcast

Twitter: @theboardwalkpod

You can also reach us by email at: theboardwalkpodcast@gmail.com

The views expressed by the hosts and guests of this podcast do not represent the views of the United States Government or the United States Department of Defense.

Episode 11: ISR, CAS, and the Afghan Air Force Jul 17, 2021

Show notes

This week we discussed the various intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) assets that were deployed in Afghanistan in support of intelligence collection and training for our Afghan counterparts. Another guest joins us to help explain those processes as well as to help shed light on some of the office politics and misuse of assets that got in the way of effective ISR tasking. We also discuss the role of close air support (CAS) and address what the future of CAS looks like in an Afghan Air Force without US and NATO contractors on site to assist in upkeep and training. We also spent a little time talking about the current state of the Afghan Air Force in general and what can possibly be expected in the immediate future. At the beginning of the episode we share a current news story about a favorite restaurant of ours from the Boardwalk during our time in Kandahar.
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Where to Listen:

Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3gbZ6ya

Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/37UuZXQ

Stitcher: https://bit.ly/3AQNadj

iHeart Radio: https://bit.ly/3y0Vfdw

Buzzsprout: https://bit.ly/37PIdoy

Be sure to like, follow, subscribe, rate, review, and share wherever you listen to our podcast. New episodes of The Boardwalk are published every Saturday morning.

Our Social Media Sites:

Instagram: @theboardwalkpodcast

Facebook: @TheBoardwalkPodcast

Twitter: @theboardwalkpod

You can also reach us by email at: theboardwalkpodcast@gmail.com

The views expressed by the hosts and guests of this podcast do not represent the views of the United States Government or the United States Department of Defense.

Episode 10: Counterterrorism and Coming to Terms Jul 10, 2021

Show notes

This week we talk to a friend who served as an Army Ranger and provides his insights on the nearly 20-year long counterterrorism mission, the original reason for America's involvement in Afghanistan. We discuss how the rather successful counterterrorism mission would eventually take a back seat to the counterinsurgency that developed during the Afghan election season of 2004. In the second half we talk about the rapid Taliban gains in the two months since this podcast started and address the idea of staying in Afghanistan in order to justify those that gave their lives during the war.
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Where to Listen:

Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3gbZ6ya

Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/37UuZXQ

Stitcher: https://bit.ly/3AQNadj

iHeart Radio: https://bit.ly/3y0Vfdw

Buzzsprout: https://bit.ly/37PIdoy

Be sure to like, follow, subscribe, rate, review, and share wherever you listen to our podcast. New episodes of The Boardwalk are published every Saturday morning.

Our Social Media Sites:

Instagram: @theboardwalkpodcast

Facebook: @TheBoardwalkPodcast

Twitter: @theboardwalkpod

You can also reach us by email at: theboardwalkpodcast@gmail.com

The views expressed by the hosts and guests of this podcast do not represent the views of the United States Government or the United States Department of Defense.

Episode 9: Pakistan Jul 03, 2021

Show notes

This week we discuss the role Pakistan has played in supporting the Taliban and al-Qaida's efforts in Afghanistan. We talk about why Afghanistan matters to Pakistan and what Pakistan hopes to gain in Afghanistan following the United States' withdrawal in July. We also talk about the very real and very serious terrorism problems Pakistan has within its borders combatting the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), more commonly known as the Pakistani Taliban.
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Where to Listen:

Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3gbZ6ya

Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/37UuZXQ

Stitcher: https://bit.ly/3AQNadj

iHeart Radio: https://bit.ly/3y0Vfdw

Buzzsprout: https://bit.ly/37PIdoy

Be sure to like, follow, subscribe, rate, review, and share wherever you listen to our podcast. New episodes of The Boardwalk are published every Saturday morning.

Our Social Media Sites:

Instagram: @theboardwalkpodcast

Facebook: @TheBoardwalkPodcast

Twitter: @theboardwalkpod

You can also reach us by email at: theboardwalkpodcast@gmail.com

The views expressed by the hosts and guests of this podcast do not represent the views of the United States Government or the United States Department of Defense.

Episode 8: Cigars, Morale, and Special Forces Jun 19, 2021

Show notes

This week we provide a look at our lives deployed in Kandahar, including office politics, both good and bad management practices, and some recreational fun outside of work. We also discuss the overuse of US Special Forces throughout the War on Terror, and the detrimental effects that had when returning home. Additionally, we talk about how corruption, misuse, and an ineffective conventional counterpart hinders Afghan Special Forces' ability to operate, and the impact this had and will continue to have on their fight against the Taliban. With us this week is another special guest and good friend who contracted with us in Afghanistan and brings his unique view to the podcast.
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Where to Listen:

Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3gbZ6ya

Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/37UuZXQ

Stitcher: https://bit.ly/3AQNadj

iHeart Radio: https://bit.ly/3y0Vfdw

Buzzsprout: https://bit.ly/37PIdoy

Be sure to like, follow, subscribe, rate, review, and share wherever you listen to our podcast. New episodes of The Boardwalk are published every Saturday morning.

Our Social Media Sites:

Instagram: @theboardwalkpodcast

Facebook: @TheBoardwalkPodcast

Twitter: @theboardwalkpod

You can also reach us by email at: theboardwalkpodcast@gmail.com

The views expressed by the hosts and guests of this podcast do not represent the views of the United States Government or the United States Department of Defense.

Episode 7: Guantanamo and Torture Jun 12, 2021

Show notes

This week we discuss the ongoing long term detention at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and the recruiting tool it has become for Islamic extremist groups worldwide. We also talk about some of the detention and torture practices that were ongoing in the early days of Afghanistan, either through traditional military units or the now infamous CIA enhanced interrogation techniques program, and the lack of accountability that coincided with these practices.
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Where to Listen:

Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3gbZ6ya

Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/37UuZXQ

Stitcher: https://bit.ly/3AQNadj

iHeart Radio: https://bit.ly/3y0Vfdw

Buzzsprout: https://bit.ly/37PIdoy

Be sure to like, follow, subscribe, rate, review, and share wherever you listen to our podcast. New episodes of The Boardwalk are published every Saturday morning.

Our Social Media Sites:

Instagram: @theboardwalkpodcast

Facebook: @TheBoardwalkPodcast

Twitter: @theboardwalkpod

You can also reach us by email at: theboardwalkpodcast@gmail.com

The views expressed by the hosts and guests of this podcast do not represent the views of the United States Government or the United States Department of Defense.

Episode 6: Waste, Cronyism, and Broken Promises: The US War Machine Jun 05, 2021

Show notes

In this week's episode we highlight the perpetual problem during the War in Afghanistan of US commanders lying to policymakers and the American people in order to perpetuate the war. We also discuss some examples of the wasteful nature of the Department of Defense and how their "spend at all costs" attitude has ballooned the war effort to over $2 trillion. Also with us this week is a good friend of ours who was in Afghanistan with the army at the same time as us and later returned as a contractor. We also describe the US War Machine using Star Wars metaphors.
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Where to Listen:

Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3gbZ6ya

Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/37UuZXQ

Stitcher: https://bit.ly/3AQNadj

iHeart Radio: https://bit.ly/3y0Vfdw

Buzzsprout: https://bit.ly/37PIdoy

Be sure to like, follow, subscribe, rate, review, and share wherever you listen to our podcast. New episodes of The Boardwalk are published every Saturday morning.

Our Social Media Sites:

Instagram: @theboardwalkpodcast

Facebook: @TheBoardwalkPodcast

Twitter: @theboardwalkpod

You can also reach us by email at: theboardwalkpodcast@gmail.com

The views expressed by the hosts and guests of this podcast do not represent the views of the United States Government or the United States Department of Defense.

Episode 5: The Taliban May 29, 2021

Show notes

In this week's episode we discuss all things Taliban. Created in 1994 by local village mullah Mohammed Omar, the Taliban would eventually become the governing body in Afghanistan in 1996. The Taliban's lack of experience led to a rocky tenure as the governing body before their leadership ultimately fled to Pakistan in the wake of 9/11. The Taliban became an insurgent movement, taking advantage of the corruption and ineffectiveness of the Afghan government, which would help position them to potentially once again become the ruling body in Afghanistan in 2021.
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Where to Listen:

Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3gbZ6ya

Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/37UuZXQ

Stitcher: https://bit.ly/3AQNadj

iHeart Radio: https://bit.ly/3y0Vfdw

Buzzsprout: https://bit.ly/37PIdoy

Be sure to like, follow, subscribe, rate, review, and share wherever you listen to our podcast. New episodes of The Boardwalk are published every Saturday morning.

Our Social Media Sites:

Instagram: @theboardwalkpodcast

Facebook: @TheBoardwalkPodcast

Twitter: @theboardwalkpod

You can also reach us by email at: theboardwalkpodcast@gmail.com

The views expressed by the hosts and guests of this podcast do not represent the views of the United States Government or the United States Department of Defense.

Episode 4: The Lion of Kandahar May 22, 2021

Show notes

In this episode we talk about Kandahar Provincial Chief of Police Abdul Raziq. An illiterate member of the Achekzai Pashtuns, Abdul Raziq rose through the ranks to become one of the most powerful, influential, and feared figures in Afghanistan. We discuss his rise to power, command style, and the allegations of human rights violations he incurred during his time as the Chief of Police. We also discuss his death and what that means for the security of Kandahar Province.
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Where to Listen:

Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3gbZ6ya

Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/37UuZXQ

Stitcher: https://bit.ly/3AQNadj

iHeart Radio: https://bit.ly/3y0Vfdw