Not ink blot - spider web
I am not a big proponent of the ink-blot theory. I have developed one of my own that I think is more practical and explains the spread f control much better - especially in areas of some countries that are ungoverned - or undergoverned so as not to offend!
I call it the spider web phenomenon. To keep in line with the "big stick" of a group of Marines, especially in an ungoverned area, think of the Marines or other appropriate security force as a spider. Initially, the spider simply builds the spokes of its web. It remains in the center, but can travel the spokes - the initial netowrk of security and influence (Lines of communication). As time passes, the spider is able to begin to lay the circles of the web starting from the center - where things are strongest (most secure). If an event happens, say a fly gets into the ointment (uprising or security situation), the spider can still travel the spokes, but areas between the spokes at this point are still being missed.
The spider continues to spread its web, laying more concentric circles. This is the security force gaining influence, building trust and partnerships in the areas surrounding its base of operations. The more concentric rings of web, the more things the spider/security force can respond to with greater speed and efficiency. This all serves to allow for the IOs/GOs/NGOs operating there a better security blanket in which to operate.
The goal is to have multiple spiders at critical locations (the most violent and unstable) and ultimately, through their work of building trust and partnerships in the areas in which they work, build their webs large enough and over enough time, to have the webs begin to overlap.
There will always be areas that the spiders simply can't build their web for whatever reasons, but at this point, the "flies" only have so many areas they can get through the webs without getting caught, and the aid workers have much greater freedom of movement.
Anyway, just the way i think we should be trying to do things. I haven't copyrighted it yet, but if I see it in someone else's book I am gonna be pissed!
HA HA
let me know what you think...I have my kevlar vest on for protection so fire away!
I think we are talking the same thing
LawVol,
i am with you...but i see all those small COPs throughout B-dad as spiders in their own right, continually going out and returning to home base, ever expanding the surface area of the web.
i think the reason it has worked so well is that we now have enough spiders with enough web coverage that there are very little areas where there is no coverage.
i think everyone focused ont he spoke part of my theory...the spokes aren't what makes the web...the concentric rings of control/influence/stability are the key.
that is why a spide has so many spokes...for support - often times in parallel, sometimes on slight angles - but all for support...if one does break, which is inevitable, the spider can still get to anypoint ont he web to address problems/irritations, and has the ability to rapidly fix any part that breaks.
With the ink blot theory, if some of the ink runs off to one area in a long rivulet, it is surrounded on three sides, for a great distance by nothing...however in the web application, if you drop a spider, while it may be surrounded initially with full encirclement, it slowly and patiently expands its influence, builds more rings of support an dstability, strengthening its web, until its web overlaps with a brother spider.
Seems like we may keep going round and round on this, huh guys? In the end, I think we are all getting at the same thing...just a different analogy...
PR