Byron Russell (U.S. Army Special Forces) reflects on a hard truth from Afghanistan: in far-flung villages with no outside communication, fear and ideology can outweigh firepower. He recounts seeing communities terrified by the Taliban—often without fighters even nearby—and wrestles with why control endured. This isn’t about tactics; it’s about how belief, isolation, and coercion shape real lives.
#Afghanistan #Taliban #GreenBeret #VeteranVoices #Counterinsurgency #Leadership #HeartsAndMinds #DTDpodcast