The highest incidence of intentional fratricide in recorded military history?
Found via another discussion board:
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If IEDs were eliminated as causal factors since July 2010, the percentage of all ISAF casualties in Afghanistan through hostile action reaches a staggering 33% caused by the intentional actions of Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) or Afghan Security Guard (ASG) personnel. Put simply, one out of every three ISAF killed since June 2010 has been murdered by the Afghans he is training or otherwise serving with.[i] This may be the highest incidence of intentional fratricide in recorded military history
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Let’s put our critical thinking caps on. Once we put this emerging phenomenon into some rational perspective we’ll find that it’s 1) hardly “emerging;” and 2) not a phenomenon at all but rather the norm in a region and within a culture where conflict is not some abstract or strategic concept but instead is an intensely personal and familial endeavor. It’s the nature of the particular beast that we’re fighting and, if we’re going to fight this beast on its home turf, then we’d better understand it and develop approaches and polices that acknowledge the reality of this conflict.
Link:http://www.defenceiq.com/army-and-la...mber_155080732
Crossing Guards must wear reflective belts...
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Originally Posted by
carl
But why? Why can't we accomplish things like that now? That is at the heart of much of my concern. There is, I see from my armchair, a military culture that in many ways prevents things that should be done from getting done.
It's not just military -- though that certainly is a part of it; rather small part, really -- it's a societal and political problem. US society has changed and demands different things than it de even 50 years ago. The US political milieu has added more and more restrictive laws to everything.
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Again, why? What I hear when you say that is the Army used to be able to do some effective things 100 years ago but that can't now and never will be able to again.
I've never said that nor am I saying it now. What I am saying is that the days when LTs got listened to much above Co level are gone -- they will return but only when we are confronted with an existential fight. That's what it will take to cur through the societal, Congressional and military bureaucracy and inertia.
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Again Why not? Why can't what is keeping that from happening be changed? For example, Congress doesn't care if over emphasis on seniority is inculcated into cadets at West Point (one of Jorg Muth's theses). They just care about the football team and that there is a girl or two with stripes. That over emphasis is within the purview of the professional military establishment. The things they have control over, they won't change.
I think you just answered your "Why not?" question...
Congress funds on whims. Upset them, ignore their priorities and you lose bucks. The Army doesn't want to lose bucks. Congress likes the one year tour, congress likes a one-size-fits-all personnel system that is 'fair' and objective' (Read NOT meritocratic...).
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Perception may not be reality, but it is mostly what people act upon. So perception is quite important.
We can disagree on that.
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In my view, it is in the interests of the general officer protection society that that not be known....
Again we disagree -- the responsibility for one year (or less) tours is directly attributable to the US polity. The Army would change if they could and IF they didn't have to attract the Millenials into the service. Start sending folks over for more than a year and the divorce rate would climb significantly while the enlistment and officer accession rate would decline precipitously.
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Multi-stars you indeed do have more experience. I think I saw one once. Docs and counselors, maybe not...
So in other words you're condemning a whole slew of people based on your perceptions? :wry:
That ain't reality...:D
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That is close to an apologia for the multi-stars, in my skewed view anyway.
It isn't and your view is indeed skewed. I have no delusions of changing that view .
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They will get no sympathy from me. I haven't heard of anybody resigning in protest.
I'm sure that will really perturb a bunch of people...
Resigning in protest isn't the American way, never has been. The Parliamentary democracies are big on it but we're a Republic and do things differently.
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I haven't heard of anybody really spilling the beans after they retire. I see a lot of guys who cover for each other, sometimes at the expense of their troops and who make a lot of money after they retire.
That, too is the American way -- that societal thingy...
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That sounds a lot like what the military said after Vietnam. "We didn't make any big mistakes. It was those politicians."
Some in the military. most of us knew better
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... why can't that be changed, at least parts of it?
I've answered that question from you half dozen times over the last couple of years and just above. You don't like my answer and that's okay but no sense wasting pixels on it.
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...Second is if it was so likely how come the multi-stars are so surprised that one of them is making silly guesses about Ramadan? If it was so likely they should have seen it coming and done something to head it off. They didn't, on both counts.
You state what one said publicly. What do you know about what others said publicly or not?
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I'll be happy to send as much as you care to hear via personal message or email. I won't do it here for a couple of reasons.
1. I'm a big chicken.
2. I don't like to jump through hoops at another's command. It looks bad
and my Mom, God rest her soul, would frown at that.
Commands and requests are very different things. I'm in no position to give you a command -- perception? or chip? :o
A PM would be interesting and it'll remain private. And remember, even Chickens cross roads...;)
Afghanistan: Green on Blue Attacks Are Only a Small Part of the Problem
Afghanistan: Green on Blue Attacks Are Only a Small Part of the Problem
Entry Excerpt:
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Green on Blue: causes and responses (merged thread)
Afghanistan: Green on Blue Attacks Are Only a Small Part of the Problem
Anthony Cordesman being the author.
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Taking cultural difference seriously ... maybe
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General Bradshaw announced that the allies had agreed on joint counterintelligence teams, as well as joint post-attack assessments and “direct input from Afghan Army religious and cultural affairs advisers” to improve cultural sensitivity.
Culture Clash With Afghans on Display at Briefing
We are working to educate Afghans on our culture, not sure we working to respect theirs in their own country.
Afghans create 'Western culture' manual to help counter insider attacks