[bvw]

I’m of the mind that he didn’t want to go to Afghanistan and thought he’d found an out.

(1) And the evidence for such a position is?

(2) And what in the Colonel's military career suggests such a position?

[Melas]

Purely a hunch on my part, hence the preface “I’m of the mind...”. It wasn’t presented as fact supported by evidence, so your request for said evidence is somewhat puzzling.