LibGuides: Craig & Fred: A Marine, A Stray Dog, and How They Rescued Each Other: Journal Articles

Theme: Human and Animal Relationships

Companion Animals and their Impact on Human Lives
Animals have played a critical role in human lives for centuries. Initially the role of animals would have been primarily for transportation, agricultural uses, or food but as humans became [...]
Our Pets, Ourselves. The article presents the author's views on humans' changing feelings toward their pets as of March 2019. The pet care industry has reportedly expanded significantly due to humans' treatment of pets as their own children and companions. Topics include the ways that humans' relationship with pets reveal novel forms of human anxiety and weakness, the case of a woman who was removed from a Frontier Airlines flight as she was carrying a squirrel, and how pets influence humans' daily lives.
Compatibility between Humans and Their Dogs: Benefits for Both. Human-animal interaction and its benefits have been a topic of interest in recent decades, but how this interaction can benefit both species remains unclear. In the case of companion animals, the focus of many studies is on human-dog interaction. When they live together, humans and dogs share activities, and when they share an enjoyment of daily activities such as walking and interacting with others, they are considered compatible in their activity preferences. Individuals who are more compatible with their dogs also report having a better relationship with them, which could explain some of the benefits of human-dog interaction. In this study, ninety people with low compatibility in activity preferences were compared to 110 people who were compatible with their dogs. The findings show that the people who were more compatible with their dogs reported higher happiness levels and lower stress scores, a stable dog-feeding routine, and more frequent daily walks and playing sessions, in addition to a lower frequency of aggressive and fearful behaviors and higher trainability scores in their dogs. In conclusion, compatibility in activity preferences helps explain the benefits of the human-animal interaction. Compatibility in activity preferences refers to the shared enjoyment of daily activities, such as walking and interacting with others, and it is an indicator of the behavioral dimension of compatibility, which mainly refers to exercise and play. It has been found that individuals who are more compatible with their dogs have a better relationship with them, which can explain some of the benefits of human-dog interaction. However, research to explain how and why human-animal relationships are potentially therapeutic is still needed. The objective of this quantitative study was to compare the benefits of human-dog interaction for both humans and dogs between people who were and were not compatible with their dogs. Ninety people with scores of 50% or less on the compatibility index and 110 people with 100% compatibility participated in the study. The groups were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. The people in the group with greater compatibility reported more subjective happiness and less perceived stress, a stable dog-feeding routine, and more frequent daily walks and playing sessions; additionally, for their dogs, they reported a lower frequency of aggressive and fearful behaviors and higher trainability scores. In conclusion, compatibility in activity preferences helps explain the benefits of human–animal interaction.
Human–Animal Interaction as a Context for Thriving and Coping in Military-Connected Youth: The Role of Pets During Deployment. There are close to two million children who have parents serving in the United States military. Youth in military families face unique challenges, such as stress about family deployment. Nevertheless, many military-connected youth also exhibit strength and resilience in the face of these challenges. Therefore, it is critical to identify useful resources that are available for youth in military-connected families that may promote such resilience, and how these resources can be optimized to help youth thrive in the context of parental deployment. The purpose of this study was to assess the role of positive relationships with companion animals as a resource for resilience and thriving in military families. Results suggested that attachment to an animal was associated with positive youth development for military-connected youth and with adaptive coping strategies for youth with a deployed family member. Implications of these findings for the potential role of pets as an effective contextual resource for military families are discussed.
Human-Animal Connections and Nursing Science: What Is the Relationship? Human-animal relationships have been documented for centuries. Animals are used for many purposes, such as enhancing human health, wellness, and companionship, to name a few. The human-animal relationship is different for every person and requires a holistic perspective. Nurses are interested in relationships that are caring, natural, and therapeutic. Research supports the profound and multifaceted health benefits of the human-animal bond. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the relationship between the human-animal connection and nursing science.
Can animals keep the doctor away? The article discusses the clinically beneficial role of animals in the therapeutic treatment of medical conditions such as anxiety, depression, and autism. Comments on the subject are offered from anthrozoologist John Bradshaw, author of the books "Dog Sense" and "Cat Sense", physiological and psychological benefits of pet ownership are described, and information is presented on alleged risks to animal welfare engendered by practices such as dolphin therapy.
Companion Animals -- Not Just a Cute Face. Cites the health benefits of humans from animal companionship. Development of responsibility and nurturing behaviors in children with pets; Role of the animal pet as an emotional outlet for teenagers; Ability of companion animals to reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels in adults; Incidence of reduced stress and better psychological health with families that brought animals into their homes.
The biology of the human–animal bond Our relationship with domestic animals is rooted in evolutionary, psychological, and physiological processes. There are significant health benefits for people associated with their interaction with animals. There are significant health benefits for animals associated with their interaction with people. Animals can be effectively utilized in therapeutic settings that are cost effective and humane.
The Human-Animal Relationship as the Focus of Animal-Assisted Interventions: A One Health Approach. Background: Animal-assisted intervention (AAIs) represent an adequate expression of integrated medicine, according to the One Health approach. We argue that AAIs are interventions based on interspecific relationships between humans and animals. Although there are many studies on the effects of AAIs on animal and human health and wellbeing, research is still needed to give us more data. For example, information is still lacking on the aspects characterizing and influencing the interspecific relationships occurring in AAIs. The efficacy of an intervention based on interspecific relationships will be influenced by different factors, such as attachment styles and personalities of both the animal and the handler, an appropriate choice of animal species and their individuality, animal educational training techniques, the relationship between the handler and the animal, and relational reciprocity between animal, the patients, and members of the working team. Method: This article aims to contribute to the study of interspecific relationships in AAIs via theoretical considerations. An interspecific relationship determines the result of safe interventions, which directly influences the welfare of the animal. Results and considerations: AAIs should be evaluated systemically as a network within a process in which every component interacts with and influences other components. Standardized methods using appropriate tests and parameters are needed to better select appropriate animals (i.e., species and individual subjects) using interspecific relational competences as well as appropriate educational training methods and health protocols to assess potential risks.

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The 300th Military Police Company and Lam Son 719. A personal narrative is presented which explores the author's experience to work as clerk during the operation Lam Son 719 of the 300th Military Police Co. in Saigon, Vietnam.
The Killer Elite The article focuses on the Marines of Bravo Company. This is a true story of bullets, bombs and a Marine platoon at war in Iraq. While watching for enemy fire and simultaneously singing rock singer Avril Lavigne's "I'm With You," the twenty-two-year-old driver, Joshua Ray Person, and the vehicle team leader, Brad Colbert--both Afghan War veterans--have already reached a profound conclusion about this campaign: that the battlefield that is Iraq is filled with delays. They sleep in holes dug into the sand twenty miles south of the border with Iraq.
Leading By Example: A Soldier's Stories The article presents several personal narratives from the author's experiences in military service, discussing the nature of leadership in multiple traditional and non-traditional scenarios, including issues of conflict management, asserting authority, and its application to civilian business practices.
Looking for ELVIS The article looks at the hunt and capture of former Iraq President Saddam Hussein, as told by people who were involved in the mission through the invasion of the U.S. of Iraq in 2003. It offers narratives from concerned individuals including Major General Ray Odierno, White House Chief of Staff Andy Card, and Lieutenant Colonel Steve Russell, from the launch of the mission, to the raid conducted by the Fourth Infantry Division in Tikrit, to the deterioration of the political situation in Iraq.
My Iraq War. A personal narrative is presented which explores the author's experience of fighting as a U.S. military personnel in Iraq.
Now I Can Go Home. Relates the experience of the author in enlisting in the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II. Difficulties experienced to earn a law degree; Factors that inspired him to get married during his military training; Injuries incurred in the war.
A Patriot and a Priest. A personal narrative is presented which explores the author's encounter with the late Army Chaplain Aloysius McGonigal in Korea in late 1962.
Playing Well With Others A personal narrative is presented which explores the author's experience of helping others in a joint military operation.
Working Class Soldier A personal narrative is presented which explores the author's experience when he entered the military as an emergency medical technician and when he was deployed to Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack.

Post-traumatic stress disorder - Research Starter Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) manifests following either direct or indirect exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence. Events such as natural disasters (earthquakes, mudslides, fires, floods, tsunamis, tornadoes), war, domestic violence, rape, violent crime, accidents, and medical procedures may trigger the development of PTSD. In the 2013 revision of the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), PTSD was included as part of a new chapter on trauma- and stress-related disorders; in previous editions of the DSM, PTSD had been classified as an anxiety disorder. According to the National Center for PTSD at the US Department of Veteran Affairs, as of October 2016, the estimated lifetime prevalence of PTSD among American adults was approximately 7 to 8 percent, and the lifetime prevalence of PTSD was about 4 percent among men and 10 percent among women.
Psychedelic Drug MDMA May Reawaken 'CRITICAL PERIOD' in Brain to Treat PTSD Johns Hopkins neuroscientists have found that the psychedelic drug MDMA reopens a kind of window, called a "critical period," when the brain is sensitive to learning the reward value of social behaviors. The findings, reported April 3 in Nature, may explain why MDMA may be helpful in treating people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Personality Factors and Their Impact on PTSD and Post-traumatic Growth is Mediated by Coping Style Among OIF/OEF Veterans. Traumatic experiences can trigger negative effects such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, some individuals may also experience positive changes following trauma exposure. These changes are known as post-traumatic growth (PTG). Dispositional and situational factors are likely at play in determining both severity of PTSD symptoms and whether and to what degree an individual experiences PTG. This study examined how coping style and personality traits interact to influence PTSD and PTG.Materials and Methods: Two hundred and seventy-one Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom veterans not engaged in mental health treatment completed self-report measures of trauma exposure, personality traits, coping styles, PTSD symptoms, and PTG. The study was approved by the Minneapolis VAHCS Institutional Review Board.Results: Adaptive coping and positive personality traits such as openness were positively correlated with PTG. Maladaptive coping and neuroticism were positively correlated with PTSD symptoms. Regression analyses indicated that an inverted-U (quadratic) curve characterized the relationship between PTSD symptoms and PTG; veterans who reported moderate PTSD levels reported the most PTG. Mediation analyses revealed that adaptive coping partially mediated the relationship between openness and PTG. Maladaptive coping partially mediated the relationship between neuroticism and PTSD symptoms.Conclusion: This study demonstrated that coping style mediated relationships between personality traits and post-trauma outcomes. Our findings are subject to the limitations of the self-report and cross-sectional nature of the data. Longitudinal studies, preferably incorporating coping-oriented interventions, could convincingly demonstrate the impact of coping style on PTSD and PTG. As coping styles can be modified, our findings nonetheless suggest that coping-oriented clinical intervention has potential to reduce PTSD symptoms and promote positive growth following trauma exposure.
PTSD TREAT THE EPIDEMIC IN OUR RANKS: NEW MEDICAL EVIDENCE FOR DEALING WITH IT HEAD ON
A qualitative study of veterans’ mixed emotional reactions to receiving a PTSD diagnosis. Many veterans do not engage in needed mental health care. To address this problem, we need to understand these patients’ experiences from the very start of their care, which includes the assessment and diagnosis process and the communication of that diagnosis to the patient. The patient’s reaction to this process can set the tone for the patient’s relationship with the mental health system and his or her therapist, yet therapists often receive little training in how to most effectively provide a diagnosis to patients. Prior research has examined emotional reactions to receiving a psychotic spectrum diagnosis, which sometimes included both positive and negative reactions, but to the authors’ knowledge, no work has examined reactions to receiving a posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosis. This qualitative study expands upon that work by examining common reactions to receipt of a PTSD diagnosis among low treatment-engaging veterans, changes in that reaction over the first few weeks postdiagnosis, and differences among reactions across veterans who initiate versus refuse evidence-based psychotherapy. Among 50 participants, self-reported reactions were categorized as positive, neutral, and negative. Positive reactions included validation, hope, and proactivity; neutral reactions included confusion, uncertainty, and acceptance; and negative reactions included shock, denial, and fear of stigma. We discuss recommendations for therapists in providing diagnoses in a patient-centered, cognitive–behavioral therapy–consistent way, to maximize the chances of engaging patients into mental health care
Seven ways to deal with post-traumatic stress disorder; PTSD can be caused by a range of experiences, from a car crash to rape to surviving a terrorist attack. But how do you know if you have it and what can you do? Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can develop after being involved in, or witnessing, traumatic events. A wide range of experiences can cause it, from being in a car crash, a traumatic childbirth, losing someone close to you in upsetting circumstances, being raped or assaulted, to surviving a terrorist attack or being in a war.
Interview: what is PTSD really? Surprises, twists of history, and the politics of diagnosis and treatment. Let’s start with how the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) diagnostic system was born. It came out of a need for medication researchers to agree on a set of criteria so that when they studied a drug for, let’s say, depression, people in Los Angeles, New York, and Boston could have a common language for what they meant by “depression.”

Stoicism - Research Starter Stoicism is an ancient Greek school of philosophy founded by the Athenian philosopher Zeno of Citium around 300 BCE. Stoic philosophy taught that the quality of virtue, or goodness, was gained through knowledge, and Stoics constructed their philosophy around three tenets: ethics, logic, and physics. Stoicism's influences included the teachings of Socrates and the Cynics, a group of philosophers who also held virtue in high esteem. Stoicism was very popular during the Roman Empire, though its favor usually depended on who was in power. Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius considered himself a Stoic and used the philosophy to inform his leadership. Stoicism's impact lasted well beyond the Roman Empire, influencing the teachings of Christianity and other philosophical figures throughout history, such as Thomas More, René Descartes, and Baruch Spinoza. Zeno of Citium was the founder of Stoicism. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
What the Stoics did for us: Could a 2,300-year-old Graeco-Roman philosophy be the key to a happy 21st-century life? The article focuses on the philosophy of humanism which leads to social justice and enlightenment. It talks about the philosophers and the the people believing in stoicism despite 21st century. It tells about using logic or cognitive science to maintain and manage one's life which is essential for human beings. It speaks about the science and the meta-physics behind the theory of stoicism. It discusses the idea of cosmopolitanism which helps elevate social living.
More or Less within My Power: Nature, Virtue, and the Modern Stoic.
The Medusa's Head: The Stoic Doctrine as Opposed To Life. "With justice we may say that the Stoic rules are the head of Medusa, turning to marble all who look upon them". Using these words, about 500 years ago, the Italian humanist Lorenzo Valla warned his readers against the risks of molding a culture based on a dehumanizing philosophy, like stoicism, as Valla contended. Gorgona, or "Medusa's head", is described in Greek mythology as a hideous creature, which turns into marble whoever looks at her. In the same way, Valla considered the stoic philosophy as harmful for making its followers drained of human feelings as if made of stones. The warning made by the Italian humanist appears in his famed work De Voluptate (1431), a dialogue which advocates for the philosopher Epicurus against the poisonous philosophy and hardening of soul from his stoical opponent, Seneca. Epicurus' philosophy was embraced as an antidote to that poison, like a substance that neutralizes the effects of Stoicism. The antidote idea is recurrent in his book, and it touches on the corner-stone of that which separates both schools of thought from one another, namely, how they view the healing of human diseases differently. One, the Stoic, seeks for a kind of moral rigidity, depriving mankind of pain and anguish. This ultimately results in an unforeseen effect that is even more terrifying because it deprives men of the possibility of joy and pleasure, thus transforming them into stone. The other, the Epicurist, opposes beauty to the hideous creature. It is no coincidence Valla quotes at the beginning of this statement from poets (Antonio Beccadelli and Maffeo Vegio, from different versions of the work). How may the poetic beauty be an antidote against the petrifying effects of Gorgona's head? How can the Stoic philosophy cause similar effects? These are the questions that I will challenge from a critical reading of Lorenzo Valla's De Voluptate
Stoic Philosophy and The Profession Of Arms. The article discusses the Stoic moral philosophy and the importance of teaching it to armed forces. A self-esteem society brought about by moral relativism was the outcome of post-modernism and anti-rationalism that rose in the 1960s. Information on the book "The Age of American Unreason," by Susan Jacoby is also presented.
Warrior Resilience Training in Operation Iraqi Freedom: Combining Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, Resiliency, and Positive Psychology. Warrior Resilience Training (WRT) is an educational class designed to enhance Warrior resilience, thriving, and posttraumatic growth for Soldiers deployed in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Warrior Resilience Training uses rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT), Army leadership principles, and positive psychology as a vehicle for students to apply resilient philosophies derived from Army Warrior Ethos, Stoic philosophy, and the survivor and resiliency literature. Students in WRT are trained to focus upon virtue, character, and emotional self-regulation by constructing and maintaining a personal resiliency philosophy that emphasizes critical thinking, rationality, virtue, and Warrior Ethos. The author, an Army licensed clinical social worker, executive coach, REBT doctoral fellow, and former Special Forces noncommissioned officer, describes his initial experience teaching WRT during Operation Iraqi Freedom to combat medics and Soldiers from 2005 to 2006, and his experience as a leader of a combat stress control prevention team currently in Iraq offering mobile WRT classes in-theater. Warrior Resilience Training rationale, curriculum, variants (like Warrior Family Resilience Training), and feedback are included, with suggestions as to how behavioral health providers and combat stress control teams might better integrate their services with leaders, chaplains, and commands to better market combat stress resiliency, reduce barriers to care, and promote force preservation. Informal analysis of class feedback from 1168 respondents regarding WRT reception and utilization is examined.
Captains of the Soul The article presents a case for the usefulness and importance of teaching Stoic moral philosophy as a part of the military education of members of the armed forces. The traditional ethics of warfare associated with stoicism are contrasted against the instrumentalist approach to war, which is characterized as postmodern. The virtues of self-command are described as part of a suitable moral philosophy for professional military personnel. An overview of the history of such issues in the politics and literature of Western civilization is included.

Animal-assisted therapy - Research Starter The idea that animals could play an important part in human well-being was first considered seriously in 1980, when E. Friedmann and colleagues conducted a ground-breaking scientific experiment that showed that people who owned pets lived longer than people who do not own pets. This study became the catalyst for many more studies documenting the ways in which animals can help people heal physically and psychologically. The concept of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) holds that animals can positively impact a patient’s cognitive, emotional, or social well-being. Toward this end, many facilities encourage interaction between patients and specially trained or chosen animals to brighten moods, lower blood pressure, and alleviate anxiety.
Going to the dogs: A quasi-experimental assessment of animal assisted therapy for children who have experienced abuse. Experience of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a risk factor for the development of maladaptive outcomes across the lifespan. CSA victims have been found to have a significantly higher risk of developing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) than children who experience non-CSA trauma. While cognitive behavioral therapy approaches have been found to effectively treat PTSD, reviews suggest that children who have experienced CSA commonly disengage from this type of therapy. Engaging children who have been sexually abused may therefore require both innovation and creativity. One approach that is gaining recognition as effectively addressing barriers associated with engagement and retention is animal assisted therapy (AAT). The current article presents a quasi-experimental assessment of an AAT program working with children who present with clinical symptoms of PTSD following CSA. The efficacy of the program is discussed along with implications of the rising interest in AAT initiatives.
Therapy Dogs on Campus: A Counseling Outreach Activity for College Students Preparing for Final Exams. A university counseling center engaged a therapy dog program for an outreach activity to reduce stress as students prepare for final exams at a large culturally diverse university. This article describes the rationale, planning, and implementation of the activity; presents an evaluation summary; and provides recommendations and implications for counselors interested in using a similar activity. A large and diverse student population attended the activity and gave primarily positive feedback for this low-cost group activity.
Pet or pro? Service animals, therapy animals and pets are not the same
Assistance Animals in the Library How One Academic Library Developed Best Practices. The article discusses the efficacy of addressing the best-practices document intended for assistance animals in the library settings. It examines the use of assistance animals in education particularly for the students with disabilities. It presents an overview on the legal classifications of service animals including emotional support, therapy animals and comfort animals.
Animal-Assisted Therapy for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: Lessons from "Case Reports" in Media Stories. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can follow war trauma, sexual abuse, other traumas, and even be experienced by commanders for the PTSD of their subordinates. Medications and counseling are sometimes not effective, so new treatments are needed. Some years ago, I suggested that animal-assisted therapy (AAT) (pet therapy) might be beneficial for PTSD. A large randomized controlled trial is underway of canine-assisted therapy for PTSD. Randomized controlled trials are most useful in assessing the efficacy of a medical intervention as these trials control for known and unknown biases. However, due to their very nature and rigorous requirements, knowledge gained from randomized controlled trials may need to be supplemented from other kinds of studies. Here, I note that media reports of AAT for PTSD may effectively function as case reports and suggest further studies: For PTSD, these demonstrate that (1) AAT can be dramatically effective in improving PTSD symptoms; (2) there is the potential for benefit from AAT by multiple different animals besides canines for PTSD; and (3) AAT may have a role in preventing suicide in patients with PTSD.
Prisoners, pups, and PTSD: the grass roots response to veterans with PTSD. As the human–animal bond is increasingly recognized as therapeutic, the role of animals, most frequently canines, grows. A contemporary pairing of animals and humans can be found inside prisons. While the dogs trained by inmates are most frequently adopted out to the community, today dogs are being trained to assist veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as part of a grass roots effort to fulfill the mental health needs of veterans. The growing number of veterans with PTSD and concomitant issues including addiction, unemployment, homelessness, and crime, makes the mental healthcare issues of veterans a social problem. The civilian-led effort to provide veterans with dogs is a continuation of the public’s involvement with the proliferation of prison-based animal programs. While this next generation of animal programs has overwhelming community support, it also suffers from similar limitations as its predecessors. With no universal agreement as to the training methods or level of skills needed by the dogs, their efficacy at lessening the symptoms of veterans’ PTSD remains largely unknown.
Preliminary evidence is promising, but challenges remain in providing service dogs to veterans: Commentary on preliminary efficacy of service dogs as a complementary treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder in military members and veterans Objective: Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are interested in service dogs to manage or reduce symptoms. Until recently, evidence was anecdotal with few research studies documenting the feasibility or benefits of service dogs for veterans. In the past year, new studies have presented preliminary evidence on the benefits of service dogs. Method: Comment on O’Haire and Rodriguez (2018). Results: Positive findings presented in O’Haire and Rodriguez (2018) and Yarborough et al. (2017) included reduced self-reported PTSD symptoms, decreased depression symptoms, improvements in relationships, and increased activity levels. In addition to the benefits, Yarborough, Stumbo, Yarborough, Owen-Smith, and Green (2018) described challenges that veterans had not expected, including the demands of long, intensive training sessions required to receive a service animal, and an increase in unwanted public attention. In light of this preliminary evidence, a critical appraisal and identification of next steps for future research are in order. In this commentary we argue that rigorous randomized controlled trials comparing veterans who receive service dogs with those who do not are due. Such trials should account for self-selection bias and some veterans’ overly optimistic expectations for service dogs, both of which have not previously been controlled for in non-randomized studies to date and may present a challenge to trial validity. We also argue that future research needs an adequate long-term follow-up evaluation period and should investigate the specific mechanisms of action at work (i.e. how do service dogs improve PTSD symptoms and quality of life). Conclusions: Additional trials are needed to establish the efficacy of service dogs for veterans with PTSD.

War in Afghanistan - Research Starter The US-led military campaign in Afghanistan to oust the Taliban regime and dismantle the al-Qaeda terrorist network operating in that country. The September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States were perpetrated by the international terrorist network al-Qaeda. This network was believed to have trained the terrorists who carried out the attack, as well as planned and implemented the attack itself, in a remote region in Afghanistan. The ruling regime in that country, the Taliban, gave safe haven to al-Qaeda, enabling it to conduct its operations. Shortly after the attacks, the United States and its North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies launched a campaign designed to destroy al-Qaeda and topple the regime that protected it. This initial campaign continued until 2014, costing the lives of thousands of American soldiers and civilian contractors as they engaged not only the Taliban and al-Qaeda but also other regional insurgents and warlords while attempting to rebuild Afghanistan’s infrastructure and stabilize the nation. Despite efforts to withdraw, the United States remained engaged in Afghanistan, with many experts predicting a full resurgence of the Taliban and a proliferation of other extremist groups if Western support of the Afghan government were to be removed.
Born Into War. Summary: The article argues that the best way to end American wars, specifically the War in Afghanistan which began in 2001 after the September 11 (9/11) attacks, is to re-implement the draft. He notes that 2019 is the first year that those born in 2001 can enlist in the armed services and examines how a seemingly endless war has impacted society.
Justifying sacrifice: Barack Obama and the selling and ending of the war in Afghanistan. Since taking office, United States President Barack Obama has attempted to refocus and revitalize the US war against terrorism. The centrepiece of this effort has been an increased emphasis on the war in Afghanistan, which he has characterized as the real frontline of the war on terror-as opposed to the 'distraction' of the Iraq war. After years of fighting under the Bush administration, Obama has had to 'sell' to the US public the renewed effort in Afghanistan and bordering Pakistan in order to maintain support for his policy. In speeches and other public pronouncements, Obama has drawn heavily on the idea of 'sacrifice' to justify the deepening of the commitment to the war, arguing that the costs of the war are necessary in order to keep the US safe from further terrorist attacks. This article explores this symbolic engagement with the sacrifices being made in the name of keeping the United States 'safe' from terrorism. It considers whether this approach resonates with public and elite opinion; it also considers the sustainability of underlying public support for the war and analyses how Obama has adapted his approach in order to fulfil his goal of drawing the US intervention to a close. While Obama appears to have judged well the price that the US public is willing to pay to defend against terrorism, it is argued that there are major risks involved in using the central principle of sacrifice when justifying the war. Obama has risked creating a 'sacrifice trap' whereby the more emphasis is placed on the sacrifices being made, the more necessary it becomes to demonstrate outcomes that make those sacrifices worthwhile. Obama's ultimate objective of withdrawing US forces from Afghanistan may yet be undermined, therefore, by the justifications he has given for the continued importance of the commitment.
What Will Be the Legacy of the War in Afghanistan? The article focuses on the possible impact of the war in Afghanistan after the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the U.S. troops left the country. It says that the Afghan Security Forces (ASF) lacks the ability to plan and conduct operations due to the absence of properly trained officer corps and senior leadership. It mentions several problems that can be encountered in the country including lack of education, direct infusion of development funding, and national security.
The War No One Watches. The article discusses what the authors refers to as the lack of U.S. television, newspaper, and magazine coverage of a war in Afghanistan involving the Taliban terrorist organization in 2018, and it mentions a push for the withdrawal of American military forces from Afghanistan. According to the article, the Americans have been involved in the Afghan War for 17 years. U.S. President Donald Trump's use of social-media is assessed.
The Longest Wars: Richard Holbrooke and the Decline of American Power. One of the most celebrated diplomats of his generation, Richard Holbrooke helped normalize U.S. relations with China; served as U.S. ambassador to a newly reunified Germany and then to the United Nations; and, most famously, negotiated the 1995 Dayton peace agreement that ended the war in Bosnia. But he began and ended his career struggling with how to resolve two American wars: first in Vietnam, then in Afghanistan.
End the War in Afghanistan. The author reflects on the decision of the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump to withdraw the American troops in Afghanistan to end the war on terrorism. Topics include the success of the forces to kill terrorist leader Osama bin Laden, the increase in military spending and the death of Afghan civilians and displacement of refugees in Iran and Pakistan.
Making Peace with Broken Pieces - Afghan Peace Process. The article talks about recent developments in the ongoing war in Afghanistan. Topics discussed include the first direct negotiations between the US and the militant group, the Taliban, US President Donald Trump having announced the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan, and the US intelligence community and State Department disagreeing with rapid withdrawal of the troops.
In Afghanistan, Battles Rage but No Side Gains. The article discusses the authors' claim that violence involving Afghan security forces and the Taliban Islamic fundamentalist organization has intensified in northern Afghanistan as of January 2019, and it mentions how the battle lines in the 17-year-long Afghan War have not shifted very much.
'Endless Wars' Complaint Resounds for Veterans. The article reports on the shifting opinions of majority of U.S. veterans against the sustained wars advanced by their government around the world. Also cited are their claim that the U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were a mistake, the efforts by both Democrat and Republican national security experts to lobby for sustained military presence in Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan, as well as President Donald Trump's move to withdraw troops from said countries.

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Craig & Fred: A Marine, A Stray Dog, and How They Rescued Each Other: Journal Articles

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Theme: Human and Animal Relationships

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