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I was looking over this old (and very stimulating) discussion tonight and saw where I referred to an FOUO document that I had downgraded to unclassified back in 2009, but I don't think I ever linked...

I was assigned to TRADOC/CAC when called by MNF-I to the contingency work group on religious leader engagements in the ITO in 2008 (earlier in this thread).

My work A Short History of Religious...

As a practicing and believing Catholic, you must know I reject this Geertzism. Dogmas are for the faithful Catholic, the immutable and incontrovertible Universal Truths, whether accepted outside...

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y44/32582ndABN/Slide2.jpg

This graphic depicts the ways the knowledge of religious objectives can be applied to counterinsurgency operations. This method gives...

Peter, perhaps these cartoons would explain what I think about your question. I hope you also had a chance to look over the PDF I sent you a link to in a PM.
...

I think we are in violent agreement here, Dr. Marc.

A short vignette. While assigned to the US Army Combined Arms Center (CAC), one of my duties was to provide enlisted advice to the CAC...

Geertz's definition of religion is nakedly Modernist as his verbs render: "establish", "formulating", "clothing." This definition precludes the possibility of revealed religion, that is, truth...

ptamas:
Without insulting you with an anthropology lesson, man is inherently religious whether his religion is Wahabbist Islam or secular liberalism.

Any regime change operation which fails in...

Oh, things are wonderful in Korea. I fully expect the regime to collapse very, very soon.

The Ceaucescu moment could be closer than it seems.

Angry citizens burned piles of old bills at two...

Were you able to open it?
Let me know - OK?
jp

Its been a while since this thread was active, but since then I was asked to compile a Short History of Religious Leader Engagements in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The FOUO version is here (AKO/DKO...

An Inside Perspective on Religious Peacemaking in Iraq


"After a slow and painful learning process, U.S. government civil and military authorities in Iraq came to the conclusion that they must...

Great post, Jedburgh. Pretty much dispels chaplain-as-pastor-only paradigm in small wars.
Whether a chaplain does it or the 'experts from Dover', the clerics are a force to be reckoned with in...

Gentlemen:
In response to the subject of chaplains engaging indigenous religious leaders and advising the commander, I would like you to consider the on-the-ground realities at the tactical...

Opinion Leaders
Individuals play a variety of roles in the social system and one crucial role is that of the opinion leader. Opinion leadership is “the degree to which an individual is able to...

I dare not air any dirty laundry, but the short answer is yes, some chaplains have refused to perform this type of work. As far as repercussions, I don't know. If the commander supports his...

Thank you, Marc. Just about everything I have read indicates that this type of warfare is here for a while. I commend you for your attitude on this subject; it is far from universal. Thanks for...

No. Moses = prophet/visionary. Your position seems quite limited IMHO.

I do not need to make the case for RST involvement in RLE; you need concrete (and not mere abstractions/theoreticals)...

Here's more evidence from actual combat that chaplains are key contributors.

""Our first priority is to the American troops," he explains. Though he doesn't spell it out, the implication is clear:...

Umkay.
I was invited here by one the Combined Arms Center's Counterinsurgency experts as a subject matter expert on religious leader engagements in counterinsurgency operations.

I respect the...

Sir, before I do that, have you seen my reply to your previous question in post #70?

Respectfully,
MSG P

Sorry wm, but the mods nailed me for posting FOUO quotes - and they are right - I shouldn't leak even 'harmless' text.

Suffice to say that while discussion on this important topic invites many...

All due respect Mr. Liles, but smarter people than us have already decided on this issue.


Here is a CALL handbook that provides detailed policy and doctrinal parameters for RST utilization in...

Mr. Blair:
I won't speculate about what you know, but what you post here. I invite you and our readers to see that many influential Islamic clerics are very open to mediation from Christian...

Again, your post posits theoreticals not grounded in current operational realities. Christians are a known (and mostly welcomed) commodity in Iraq; secularists are regarded with the utmost...