Video Here's a New Take on Social Media...

June 3, 2009

VIEW: A U.S. scout in Afghanistan watches the enemy on YouTube attacking American units right around the base where they sit.

The Taliban have vans with mobile editing rooms to make these propaganda and training videos; they then distribute them online and on DVDs. And as you'll see -- U.S. soldiers learn a lot from the clips.

Produced by Elizabeth Rubin, a New York Times Magazine contributing writer, she spent much of fall '07 with Battle Company, the U.S. 173rd Airborne Brigade, in northeastern Afghanistan -- and brought along her video camera.

Here's more of Rubin's videos and reporting -- part of our new Digital Nation project.

3 Comments

COMMENTS

This is a mistake by the Taliban, as it gives away unnecessary intelligence, so thanks please carry on.
However, I do think both the ISAF Europe and US need to stop publishing troop numbers, locations either by themselves or allowing so called media Embeds to do so. Also the numbers of trained Afghan police or Army and where they are deployed.
The WWII rule was "careless talk costs lives" and "war strategy" was certainly not for public and media debate, and here we are telling the Taliban and Al Qaeda all that for free and wondering why they as a guerilla war outfit fast nimble ( afghan nationals) can beat us when we have probably 5 to 1 numbers wise. It's easy we give them months to plan ahead and prepare, with almost everyhing they need!!
Regards,
Hodgson.

J.V.Hodgson / October 24, 2009 3:21 AM

Good day

It is unfortunaty that the american government is still spending billions of dollars on a land they do not own nor will ever have a say on. Look at Irak. The americans entered into a war to have access to oil, now both the Irak government and population have said quite clearly that no contract will be given to american companies for the re-construction of the oil infrastructures and cities and I will not be surprise if they decide not to sell their oil to America like Iran have done so far. It seems that America is shooting in its foot, one after the other. The billions of dollars spend on wars would have created millions of jobs home and save thousands of lives or young soldiers that comes home with psychiatric problems, health issues and all family problems that goes with it all. America is creating a generation of youngsters that will have no futur in anything because they did not have the chance to choose between a war job to kill people and a real job. It is a shame that will follow this society for decades to come. Thanks you

Yves Bertrand / October 26, 2009 10:09 PM

Wow, J.V.Hodgson:

How do you figure that we have a 5:1 advantage? It's THEIR COUNTRY!

Dave / October 27, 2009 5:47 AM

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Editors' Notes