operation

Where did your statements on eing dissapointed about missing out on the upcomming operation in Oruzgan go?!

What Now

My sentence about an "operation" was a metaphor, which could be easily misunderstood.
There are daily operations in Afghanistan, and elsewhere of course, about which we never hear. For all further information I would like to redirect you to my articles in NRC Handelsblad, if you master the Dutch language that is.

lol

oeps - the state's leash doesn't led you go that far...

Karskens was right after all:
http://www.sargasso.nl/archief/2007/08/05/arnon-grunberg-buigt-opnieuw/

What now

Mr. Karskens is a con artist, my dear.

con artist

Although I do not agree with his point regarding zero censorship in security matters, I wonder what makes him a con artist in your opinion. I read he is an investigating journalist for almost 27 years and been to 30 conflict areas already.

welcome to the fair

You yourself make quite a deceptive fortune teller!

What now

Did I ever claim to be a fortune teller, my beloved one.
I can recommend a few good fortune tellers in New York.

Ilanit

For Mr. Karskens war is the continuation of masturbation with other means. This put him safely in the category of con artists as far as I’m concerned.

Arnon

So someone is a con artist if he experienced an intense (maybe even sexual?) joy from an occupation, such as reporting from a war zone? I really think you weaken your position by taking this point of view and make this seems like an ego battle to be honest. It’s obvious both have completely different starting point as journalists. Personally I prefer ‘slow’ journalism and don’t really trust the “hard news”. I think it’s a shame you don’t stand up for what you do.
As of fortune telling, I do remember you referred to yourself as a prophet several times. The ability fortune telling lies within every prophet.
And another point which puzzled me was what you called your neurotic side. It looks as if you state that nothing worth while happens in the ‘civilised world’, or at least nothing you would be afraid to miss. Do you really think that?

Tiger

You might be surprised that I do not just repeat what you claim about yourself. I just noticed that earlier on the day you foretold the news that is only now available from other (open) sources. Upon being caught in the act you lied and deceived - that's what I refered to.
By the way, thanks for your excellent contributions to NRC Handelsblad.

What now

Your posts can be described best as much ado about nothing. You are trying to prove time and again something which is public knowledge and which was discussed more then once. I’m surprised you read the NRC with your hysterical search for sensation.

PS

and trying to make a slip of the tong a huge issue is really pathetic. Get a life!

Ilanit

Read Mr. Karskens’ articles, and you’ll see that my description of his work is accurate.

Arnon

A quick read of several of his posts let me thin the word megalomania can be accurate as well, but that’s completely beside the point of what you do or why. But then again, since I used to be a lawyer I will probably always think as one. So when choosing to react- you can make a better case!

Ilanit

Arnon's flexible dealing with what some people might call 'the truth' is not a pathetic issue, but a central element of his work that is particularly clear in his thoughts on identities.
PS. Don't fear sensations, just enjoy them.

What now

The truth is always and everywhere a flexible concept my dear friend.
Arnon’s answer to you was a responsible answer and, as you can see, on a later stage, he could and did clarified the issue completely.
Your search for the truth for the sake of sensation is pathetic because you obviously couldn’t care less about the consequences. As a matter of fact it’s not only pathetic. It’s also very Childish.
Do not be mistake me for one who fears sensation but not when it’s accompanied by irresponsible stupidity.

Arnon
Welcome back.

OPSEC, Karskens, and censorship

Dear Arnon,
Well, well, well – I see you made quite a name for yourself by disclosing the launch of a NATO operation in Uruzgan province once you were safely home and many hours before any official announcement of ‘Operation Spin Ghar’ was released. It's one of the most serious infringements of the OPSEC (Operational Security) rules I've come across in connection with the NATO-led ISAF operation in Uruzgan province (bar a few slips of the tongue by obvious dumbos in blogs for their 'home front', but you're no dumbo). You know, Arnon, disclosing operational information like you did can cost lives. Real ones, not fictitious ones from your novels. Would you have been a soldier, you'd be court-martialled.

By the way, I agree with your judgement about Dutch reporter Arnold Karskens. He’s become a caricature and a shadow of the man he once was. In that sense, you’re a better writer-war reporter than he is; to my best knowledge he has never been to dangerous places in Uruzgan province like you have, such as FOB Poentjak. Hat off for that!

Greetings from Porta Westfalica, where, as you wondered, I’m NOT waiting for the Russians to arrive, haha.

friendship webmaster uruzgan - Arnon

Looks like a good friendship is growing between you two. Interesting discussions. But no winners.

Webmaster Uruzgan

Dream on Webmaster.
Do you really think I endangered even the life of a Dutch sparrow by writing that a big operation started?
The ministry of defense has sometimes a control problem, you cannot, these days were so many soldiers have web blogs etcetera, control all the outgoing information.
And by far the biggest problem is hat the ministry of defense is controlling information not to protect the troops but the protect the members of parliament, so they can get away with lies and disinformation.
What are you doing in Porta Westfalica and can I visit you there one day?

Bonjour, cher Arnon,

Hélas pour toi, je suis déja au delá des rêves…

I checked with the Dutch sparrow community (or rather, crow community, ‘Old Crows’(look up in dictionary). Yours appears to be the ONLY website or blog that prematurely announced the launch of Operation Spin Ghar (‘White Mountain’, a mountain range which, I believe, is located in Nangarhar and Kunar provinces, not in Uruzgan).
A Hungarian scientist yesterday posted a most interesting theory about your ‘slip of the tongue’, in which you, a Dutch journalist, and the Defence ministry are featured. Says the author: "unintentionally, this may have been good dramatic timing for some useful albeit minor input to the NATO debate in Nordwijk, the Netherlands.” See http://statefailure.blogspot.com/. Maybe you were part of a deliberate INFOOPS (look up in dictionary) scheme to influence that NATO meeting in Noordwijk? Only time will tell, or maybe Captain Cynthia can help you out. My best guess is that you forgot about, or overlooked, the small print of a declaration you had to sign before being allowed to share an armoured container with her. One wonders whether such a declaration also includes a ban on fraternisation (both vertically ánd horizontally!) with members of The Netherlands Armed Forces. :-)
Fortunately, I’m not into politics, and have no idea whether or not the ministry of defence is helping Dutch members of parliament to get away with lies and disinformation.
Finally, what am I doing in Porta Westfalica? I live there, but somewhere else I run a ‘Department of Distortion and Defamation’ (joke). Visit? PW basically is a dump, but we could organise a u/c r/v (look up in dictionary), preferably in Paris. The fountain and colonnade of Le jardin du Palais Royal are among my favourite spots.

Tout à vous,
webmaster

Webmaster

If you are not interested in politics why are you interested in Oruzgan?

Literair trainingskamp

Beste Arnon,

lees vandaag in de Volkskrant de eerste resultaten van het 'literaire trainingskamp' voor militairen die in Uruzgan dienen/hebben gediend, en jouw eigen inleiding daarbij. Dijk van een artikel. De volgende passage trof mij in het bijzonder:

"Zoals de aristocratie zich op het standpunt stelde dat werken iets was wat de beesten deden, zo meende de Nederlander dat oorlog voeren iets was wat aan anderen kon worden overgelaten. Amerikanen, Russen, Duitsers, Engelsen. Wij niet, wij waren er vooral goed in om uit te leggen waarom doden en vechten slecht was, al waren we niet te beroerd er een grijpstuiver aan te verdienen.

Onze handen hebben wij nooit in onschuld gewassen, wij wassen onze handen in zedenpreken."

Hartelijke groet,

webmaster, Uruzgan weblog