No Way Out Warriors over Fobbits: LtCol Asad "Genghis" Khan, USMC (Ret.)
Oct 10, 2025
LtCol Asad "Genghis" Khan, a retired Marine with deep combat experience in Afghanistan, shares his unfiltered insights on war and leadership. He emphasizes the importance of cultural understanding over mere observation, arguing that context is vital for effective decision-making. Khan critiques senior leadership's disconnect and highlights how misapplied strategies can lead to disastrous outcomes. He advocates for practical local solutions and stresses moral courage and accountability in military leadership, urging a transformative approach to command and training.
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Orientation Beats Observation
- Orientation matters more than observation; it shapes decisions and speeds the OODA loop.
- Cultural and personal background create reflexive observations that briefings cannot substitute.
Refugee Roots Shaped His Lens
- Asad recounts fleeing his family home in Pakistan and living as a refugee in Kabul as a child.
- That early exposure to Pashtun culture later shaped his operational instincts in Afghanistan.
Fitness As A Selection Tool
- Khan describes intense physical selection at 1-7 where fitness decided platoon assignments.
- He credits that culture of toughness with shaping his expectations for junior Marines.
