Comments on: NPR Had a Counterinsurgency Debate and All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt

By: Dean

Dean — Wed, 07 May 2008 19:31:32 +0000

A brief recap of the story, with all the necessary links, along with a lengthy comment by Army historian Gian Gentile, is over on the Chicago blog.

By: Bithead

Bithead — Wed, 07 May 2008 02:39:01 +0000

Depends on the season, for me. Of late, I've been panning back and forth between the big 50kw blowtorch hereabouts... WHAM, and Quinn and Rose's War Room, which is on both XM and a lot of AM stations around... inclduing WYSL just down the road to Avon, ny.

During the Winter months, I do like listening to some of the out of town stuff, such as Smirconish on WPHT down in Philly, or perhaps KYW or WCBS or one of the big newsers. Summer, they fade out too early.

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Tue, 06 May 2008 19:32:10 +0000

Since I got XM in my car I don't listen to NPR any longer.

I've got Sirius but same here. I usually listen to NFL Radio and flip around during commercials. "Morning Edition" is what my clock radio wakes me up to, though. I listen to a few minutes' worth before my dogs make me get up and then I catch a few minutes more shaving and getting dressed.

By: charles austin

charles austin — Tue, 06 May 2008 19:03:51 +0000

Since I got XM in my car I don't listen to NPR any longer. When I travel, I will occasionally listen since I can always locate them on the dial, but it usually only takes a couple of stories to realize that the signal to noise ratio in the echo chamber remains as low as ever before.

By: Sam

Sam — Tue, 06 May 2008 15:09:45 +0000

NPR does have commercials I forgot the clever term they use for their sponsors. They are completely dishonest to claim it's commercial free.

Haven't listened to them in years and life is just fine.

The whole enterprise should be privatized and then they can do whatever they like.

By: William d'Inger

William d'Inger — Tue, 06 May 2008 14:20:09 +0000

I have never listened to NPR in my life, but the local PBS television station is running commercials and not just between shows but during shows. They don't call them commercials. They pretend they are not commercials. They insist they are not a commercial station. But they are being delusional if they actually believe what they say. Plus the pledge drives, art auctions, beer tastings, wine and cheese nights, and stuff make it seem they are begging non-stop anymore. Plus everything they show seems to be a rerun. On the other hand, the station facilities were totally destroyed in hurricane Katrina, so I am willing to cut them some slack for the time being.

By: Michael

Michael — Tue, 06 May 2008 14:00:10 +0000

It was a pretty interesting debate, but wasn't terribly insightful. Basically the people who think we'll fight a major conventional war in the future say the focus on COIN training is hurting the military, while people who view COIN as our primary challenge in the future view it as the enlightenment of modern strategy. The linked article is pretty close the the actual content of the broadcast, so you're didn't miss out on much.

That said, I do hate the pledge drives too, but my local station (WUSF) has recently cut back from 3 to 2 per year.

By: Bithead

Bithead — Tue, 06 May 2008 13:51:27 +0000

I speak as someone who made his living in radio for over a deacde...

If "Begging for dollars" ever had to support itself without begging, they'd never survive.
And given the sludge they put out, that may not be a bad thing.

By: LaurenceB

LaurenceB — Tue, 06 May 2008 13:45:38 +0000

Not to worry - I'm sure one of the 24-hour cable news channels (perhaps Fox News) will have a similar debate at some point.

HA HA HA HAAAA HAAAAAA HAAAA!!!!! (I slay me!)