From Ulster to Iraq: a lesson moves

[davidbfpo]

On 16/1/08 The Independent (London) published an article by Kevin Myers, called Battle for hearts and minds is being won by US in Anbar:

http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/kevin-myers/battle-for-hearts-and-minds--is-being-won-by-us-in-anbar-1266951.html?startindex=0&sort=old

An interesting article which suggests that 'two British army officers serving in Baghdad, first Major General Graham Lamb, and then Major General Paul Newton, began to urge that the coalition's enemies must be made into their friends'.

I recall the deputy commander was British, possibly one of these men and was reported a few months ago as being involved in direct talks with the coalitions enemies.

davidbfpo

[Norfolk]

Interesting piece david - and that lesson has moved into Afghanistan as well (despite at least one spectacular failure). The Brits are doing some interesting work there; I wonder whether that was a British response to Karzai's efforts to bring less extreme elements of the Taleban into the fold, or whether the British have been proposing this to their allies who have subsequently found it to be worth a try.

Couple this to having US Marines, with their institutional tradition of Small Wars, in place, and it makes for a potent approach to COIN. Now if only we could have those same Marines enforcing Brit negotiating efforts in Afghanistan...