Category: finding your zen

Winning the Peace (Ch. 4)

Winning the Peace (WTP and/or WP – Willy Pete?), and the FAOs in the program are organized within each partner nation similarly to an infantry platoon reinforced. Platoon commander (O-5), platoon sergeant (E-8), corpsman, radio telephone operator (RTOs), squad leaders (O-4), fire team leaders (O-3), and grunts (enlisted advisors). The total number of individuals deployed … Continue reading Winning the Peace (Ch. 4) →

But Simon, why the border run to Burma? I thought you’d never ask.

Last Thursday I went to the immigration office in my adopted home town of Chiang Rai to make a 90-report as per Thai law. I presented my passport to the officer and looked away from him to organize some other documents (lease on my house, etc.) when the officer told me there was a problem. … Continue reading But Simon, why the border run to Burma? I thought you’d never ask. →

Winning the Peace (Ch. 3)

Past being prologue, it is not likely that either the Department of State or CIA is going to beat back the onslaught of Salafism. The intent here is to provide leadership with a notion of the type of Foreign Area Officer (FAO) required to develop and implement strategy. The current “strategy,” whatever it may be, … Continue reading Winning the Peace (Ch. 3) →

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Costa Rica

Not exactly where it all began, but before I was dodging and/or killing some of the most deadly snakes in the Western Hemisphere I decided to drive vice fly to Costa Rica (CR). I mark the beginning of this adventure in the epicenter of the Redneck Riviera (Panama City, FL) where I purchased a four wheel drive … Continue reading A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Costa Rica →