SWJ Mag vol 8 - Progressive Reconstruction

Progressive Reconstruction
Melding Expeditionary Maneuver Warfare with Nation Building - Stability Operations
by Maj Karl C. Rohr

Open thread....

COIN in 4 pages or less.

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"On a more serious note Major Rohr's article "Progressive Reconstruction" is COIN in 4 pages or less. Take the Flippin ground away from them and there want be any road side bombs or head chopping or gun fighting or 4GW Psycho stuff. Until we understand this and resource it correctly from the start we will keep getting the same results." --Slapout9

This is a good paper and puts a new face on some old and valid concepts such as ink spot theory, unity of command, and combined arms (lethal and non-lethal) effects to name a few.

My sole criticism is he links both Clausewitz and Jomini as equal advocates of the classic battle of annihilation when really that was Jomini's view. Clausewitz at least what we know of what he wrote was a much more adaptative theorist. This point is minor and Rohr is not alone in such linkages. For a good run down on C&J as the apply to COIN, see John Nagl's learning to Eat soup With a Knife.

Best

Tom

the Clausewitz-Jomini comment in the article was a one liner, as such it could not begin to describe C an J, it was meant to say that they represent classical warfare-state vs state and that COIN and the target of Progressive Reconstruction are mainly designed for state vs non-state & intra-state conflicts.