Afghanistan Vet Amber Smith on the Withdrawal

The King of Stuff talks with Amber Smith, a former OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter pilot-in-command and air mission commander who flew multiple combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Amber served as Deputy Assistant to the Secretary of Defense (Outreach), Special Assistant in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and as an advisor on the Department of Veterans Affairs presidential transition team. She is also the best-selling author of Danger Close: My Epic Journey as a Combat Helicopter Pilot in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Jon and Amber discuss Biden’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, the rapid fall of Kabul, and where the US military goes from here.

Subscribe to the King of Stuff Spotify playlist featuring picks from the show. Today’s song, “Trance Manual” by John Vanderslice, portrays the complicated relationship between the US and Middle East through metaphor-laden lyrics.

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There are 8 comments.

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  1. The Cloaked Gaijin Member
    The Cloaked Gaijin
    @TheCloakedGaijin

    Not the Amber Lee Smith from the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit?

    Hmm, looking at her instagram page, it looks like she is conservative too, although perhaps a bit conspiracy-minded too…

    • #1
  2. I Walton Member
    I Walton
    @IWalton

    He says nobody is in charge.  The Chinese are, they just don’t have to do much; everything is going well for them.

    • #2
  3. Andrew Inactive
    Andrew
    @user_478927

    Amber Smith is a pilot who is pro-women in combat units, to include infantry. HARD PASS on anything she has to say about anything. Her ilk have led us down this road. [Redacted]

    • #3
  4. DonG (2+2=5. Say it!) Coolidge
    DonG (2+2=5. Say it!)
    @DonG

    Andrew (View Comment):
    Amber Smith is a pilot who is pro-women in combat units, to include infantry. HARD PASS on anything she has to say about anything. Her ilk have led us down this road. [Redacted]

    Best person for the job, right?  Sounds like she served well.

    • #4
  5. Andrew Inactive
    Andrew
    @user_478927

    DonG (2+2=5. Say it!) (View Comment):

    Andrew (View Comment):
    Amber Smith is a pilot who is pro-women in combat units, to include infantry. HARD PASS on anything she has to say about anything. Her ilk have led us down this road. [Redacted]

    Best person for the job, right? Sounds like she served well.

    “Best person foe the job”—you obviously don’t know what you’re talking about. Women are held to completely different physical standards despite combat arms MOS’s being opened up to them. If you haven’t served, maybe sit this one out. -a veteran of Afghanistan 

    • #5
  6. Doctor Robert Member
    Doctor Robert
    @DoctorRobert

    How droll to hear Jon, a committed NTer, shrieking about the man he helped to elect.   It’s not like Mr Biden’s character and competence were mysteries in 2020.

    • #6
  7. Jon Gabriel, Ed. Contributor
    Jon Gabriel, Ed.
    @jon

    Doctor Robert (View Comment):

    How droll to hear Jon, a committed NTer, shrieking about the man he helped to elect. It’s not like Mr Biden’s character and competence were mysteries in 2020.

    I voted for Trump in 2020.

    • #7
  8. Randy Weivoda Moderator
    Randy Weivoda
    @RandyWeivoda

    Doctor Robert (View Comment):

    How droll to hear Jon, a committed NTer, shrieking about the man he helped to elect. It’s not like Mr Biden’s character and competence were mysteries in 2020.

    There’s shrieking in this episode?  Hmm, that’ll be different.  I don’t happen to recall Jon campaigning for Joe Biden or ever declaring himself to be a Never Trumper, but maybe I missed an episode.

    • #8
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