Social Scientist in Army's 'Human Terrain' Program Dies in Afghanistan

[sabra]

Source: Chronicle of Higher Education

Michael V. Bhatia, a graduate student in political science who was serving as a civilian employee of the U.S. Army’s Human Terrain program, died on Wednesday in Afghanistan.

Mr. Bhatia graduated from Brown University in 1999 and was pursuing a doctorate in political science and international relations at the University of Oxford. Since late last year, he had been working with the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division as part of the Human Terrain program, a controversial effort in which scholars advise military personnel about local social structures.

The program has prompted widespread criticism, but Mr. Bhatia strongly supported it, according to a memorial notice that was posted on Thursday by Brown’s Watson Institute for International Studies.

The institute quoted a November 2007 letter in which Mr. Bhatia wrote, “The program has a real chance of reducing both the Afghan and American lives lost, as well as ensuring that the US/NATO/ISAF strategy becomes better attuned to the population’s concerns, views, criticisms, and interests and better supports the Government of Afghanistan.”

Read more: http://chronicle.com/news/article/4460/social-scientist-in-armys-human-terrain-program-dies-in-afghanistan

[Mojorabbit]

1. It seems his heart was in the right place

from the article. RIP to him and the two soldiers that were also killed.

[ogsbee]

2. The Human Terrain program has nothing to do with understanding, only manipulating and threatening

in the attacked culture's own terms.

Terrain, as in "step all over them." This program is a lie (except in Bushzarro world), designed as a lie, implemented as a lie. Any psychologist, anthropologist or political scientist who takes part in an illegal war of aggression is a war criminal.

Any death in these hideous, illegal wars is a tragedy.

[jody]

3. Please prove your assertion Human Terrain program is a lie? n/t

[frankieT]

4. Human sciences are often used by the State

to ensure a comprehensive control of the terrain. Look at the first colonial expeditions : they were always half scientific (naturalists & ethnologists) and half military.

[Jed Dilligan]

5. Social Scientist in Army's 'Human Terrain' Program Dies in Afghanistan

Source: Chronicle of Higher Education

Michael V. Bhatia, a graduate student in political science who was serving as a civilian employee of the U.S. Army’s Human Terrain program, died on Wednesday in Afghanistan.

Mr. Bhatia graduated from Brown University in 1999 and was pursuing a doctorate in political science and international relations at the University of Oxford. Since late last year, he had been working with the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division as part of the Human Terrain program, a controversial effort in which scholars advise military personnel about local social structures.

The program has prompted widespread criticism, but Mr. Bhatia strongly supported it, according to a memorial notice that was posted on Thursday by Brown’s Watson Institute for International Studies.

The institute quoted a November 2007 letter in which Mr. Bhatia wrote, “The program has a real chance of reducing both the Afghan and American lives lost, as well as ensuring that the US/NATO/ISAF strategy becomes better attuned to the population’s concerns, views, criticisms, and interests and better supports the Government of Afghanistan.”

Read more: http://chronicle.com/news/index.php?id=4460&utm_source=pm&utm_medium=en

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RIP Michael Bhatia: I don't really support this program but you were in it for the right reasons. Your good works will be remembered.

[youngharry]

6. Michael V. Bhatia

It is just criminal that another American, with great potential for doing good in the world, has died prematurely because of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, cowardly criminals who would never step foot on the battle field.

[InkAddict]

7. Sorry, it's been my experience that people who work for the

military-industrial complex in "human factors/human terrains" lose their humanity if they want to get paid.

"The evil that men do live after them. The good is oft interred with their bones." (with great purpose).

Seems like the spin would so indicate here.