WASHINGTON (AP) — The former top U.S. commander in Afghanistan said Sunday that withdrawing up to half the 14,000 American troops serving there would reduce the incentive for the Taliban to negotiate...
Type: Posts; User: GPaulus; Keyword(s):
WASHINGTON (AP) — The former top U.S. commander in Afghanistan said Sunday that withdrawing up to half the 14,000 American troops serving there would reduce the incentive for the Taliban to negotiate...
The U.S. military’s paradigm for operations is a six-phase planning construct that consists of six stages--phase 0 (shape), phase I (deter), phase II (seize initiative), phase III (dominate), phase...
I think we are too quick to accept a theory when it passes our paradigm test but as Aristotle has so wonderfully explained, "It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought...
[QUOTE=Fuchs;115081]The very question already shows that you have no clue about economic theory. The correct question would have asked for the price elasticity of demand for oil. That's 1st or 2nd...
We must understand the tenants of insurgencies. Inside these tenants are inherent differences between an insurgency, revolution and terrorism. Some experts will quickly say that insurgency,...
The only periods in time energy prices became really volatile were in 1974/75oil embargo (quick and short duration) follow by 12% inflation, and 1980/81. follow by deregulation and again inflation....
We may have to agree to disagree on this one. I am not saying that higher energy prices will collapse an economy but what I am saying is that Volatile
Energy Prices will collapse an economy. ...
It is interesting to note that through this economic crisis everyone missed the root cause of the world wide economic collapse. What is the root cause of the global economic contraction? We tend to...
Have you heard of a concept known as Dunbar's Number? Dunbar makes an argument to the upper limits of social organizations (gangs, terrorists, insurgencies, military operational units, etc). And,...
You are correct in stating that insurgencies act a lot like gangs and criminal elements. In fact insurgents do not have a goal of winning in war, just as gangs dont want to over-through the...
"Then the 'simplest', and by that I don't mean either cheap or easy, solution is to rebuild their economy. I used to work with a friend who grew up in the camps around Peshawar and, from what she...
Hallelujah for once someone gets it! It is not about religion. In fact as I study this insurgency and others, I have come to the conclusion that no war in the history of mankind started out as a...
You are correct. Oil is being stolen every day. When I was there, we saw individuals along the pipeline digging catch basins and then puncturing the lines to collect the oil. I am certain that...
It is true that in a perfect world, we would like to see Iraq deliver to the market 5 million barrels of oil per day. This would provide the necessary revenue to fund the rebuilding effort. ...
The new Iraq strategy centers on the “surge” to increase forces in-theater by 21,500 troops and some would argue that the “surge” misses what is actually new in the strategy – its population-centric...
Where I am going with my argument is that the way to beat an insurgency is to create a "Cause" that is greater than their "cause to die for." This group of individuals at least in Iraq can...
It is interesting to learn that these were not insurgents but more, a religious cult. The insurgency paradigm and their TTPs have not changed--local engagements--within km of their home, small...
The fact that "All" human behavior ihas a motive and is motivated by one thing and one thing only "Self-interest" does not make all struggles the same. The major difference as I see it between the...
Yes that is what is going around in my head--insurgents (at least in Iraq)are apolitical. I believe that insurgents have motives but that their motives are much more primal. I believe that others...
I am not afraid that counterinsurgency warfare did something right, I am concerned that what we are seeing is no longer an insurgency. That it is changing right before our eyes. It may be becoming...
The article you referenced "Defining Terrorism:
Is One Man’s Terrorist Another Man’s Freedom Fighter?
by Boaz Ganoris" is accurate in its definition of Terrorists and groups of Terrrorists. The ...
Something just doesn't add up. To mass Insurgents in Iraq on this scale would truely be a first. I don't think we are getting the full report yet unless the insurgency is beginning to matastisize. ...
I agree that there are significant and fundamental differences between Terrorists and Insurgents--significant differences in their motives, targets, their desires, their funding, their socioeconomic...
I am interested in opinions and/or studies that may lead to an accurate approximation of the size of terrorist groups around the world. I know opinions may vary widely. I have written several...
Sir,
Thank you for your patients with my rambling on this topic. I believe based on what I have learned from the war and in my studies that there are fundamental and significant differences...