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    Quote from "Killer Elite"

    Michael Smith quotes LTG McChrystal in his book "Killer Elite" (pg. 276)...

    Although Task Force 145 was under the control of the coalition commander, its operations were largely autonomous and...
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    There is a process

    1) Verfiying the target is important and that is done through various collection means, it is non-negotiable and usually redundancy is required for any kinetic operations
    2) Using ISR to establish a...
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    Two strengths to consider

    Having worked for LTG McChrystal two things he has going for him that will be crucial in Afghanistan. 1) He truly gets small unit tactics (company and below), and he has a knack for team...
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    No comment

    My grandfather always warned me to never stick my hand into a rabbit hole for fear a snake might have taken up residence inside and eaten the rabbits. However, you bring up an interesting point that...
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    Pakistan remains part of the problem

    Not to belabor a point that has been discussed ad nauseum but Pakistan remains part of our problem in the area... Not sure we will ever get a good grip on that portion of the equation, plus you're...
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    Tend to agree

    I know some will see this as simple sarcasm or pessism but there is some truth to this statement. Political expediency is often the remedy for untenable military problems like defeating the Taliban....
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    DA versus COIN

    There seems to be a lot talk reference COIN/IW but my experiences tell me that McChrystal and Rodriguez are more counter-terrorist (CT) direct action focused vice "winning hearts and minds" and other...
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    Perhaps this has more to do with the Marines...

    Perhaps this has more to do with the Marines desire to form a SOTF like organization more in line with the SF battalions? Anyone know what the Marines are planning along those lines? I heard rumor...
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    Let's hope the JSAT's get it right...

    I would hope that GEN Patraeus doesn't take the Iraq model and expect it to fit nicely over the Afghanistan problem. My fear is a 'cookie cutter' approach will be used for a very unique problem that...
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    Not suprising...

    There are several partners in the NATO coalition that aren't doing much of anything in Afghanistan. There is a glaring lack of unity of effort and unity of command in OEF-A and the NATO partners.
  11. Good Point

    Dr Jack -

    I really like the point you made about the Center of Gravity being their ideology. That is absolutely (IMHO) right on the money and having spent a lot of months in Afghanistan over the...
  12. Another take

    In my humble opinion the fight in Afghanistan is currently an insurgency from a U.S. perspective. We legitimately view the Karazai government and his armed forces as the soveriegn rulers (if you...
  13. Quiet Raven's Original Postq

    QR,

    Much of what you propose (i.e. combined operations with the PKMIL) have already been floated by the Pakistani's with them answering with a resounding 'NO'. They are not unlike any other...
  14. People on the ground are calling it an insurgency

    After a long hiatus from this blog site I have returned with hopefully something worth contributing. I just recently returned from Afghanistan and the commander of the CJSOTF calls his fight there...
  15. Probably serves both, but the LWJ the most...

    I would imagine the LWJ gets mileage from it, and to say no one would go on the record from a journalistic perspective gives you two things, 1) the perception of credibility, and 2) plausible...
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    I'd also suggest that our failure to provide...

    I'd also suggest that our failure to provide unity of command is a big disruptor of any effort toward coherence. The Prez says what he wants, that's strategy. DoD says do what the boss wants, the...
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    Ken, I guess I will let you off the hook with...

    Ken,

    I guess I will let you off the hook with your previous answer, but I would argue that having a strategy and focus tends to allow the commanders (PLT and above) in theater the ability to...
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    Wading into the gator pond...

    Ken,

    Could you expand on this a little? I am confused to what you're trying to say here? Are you saying the current administration is committed to finding an end to the war by creating a...
  19. Metrics, metrics everywhere

    Ken,

    Thank you for clarifying that point because I was about to ask you what military you served in prior to retirement? Sit in any staff especially O-6 and above and it becomes apparent that...
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    Poll: That will never happen! However, don't kid...

    That will never happen! However, don't kid yourselves when you look at who answers to who in our current theaters of war. If you pay attention, you will see the JSOTF's answering to the...
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    Precision Strike vs. Force Protection Concerns

    You want to believe that we are learning, and in some places we are but there is also a price to pay for putting two to three men out in the middle of a potentially dangerous place. An example that...
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    Snipers are essential to COIN/Small Wars

    Steve,

    I think when we talk about sniper operations and their use on the battlefield there needs to be clear ROE, regardless of intensity of the combat. However, I think in this war much like in...
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    Too few details to give an opinion but I will anyway...

    This incident smells like a dead cat. Everything from "rushing the proceedings" to the snipers own actions of checking the dead guy?!? Why did they come down to "check out" the dead guy? Was this...
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    Cuts will happen...

    I am not holding my breath and when the axe falls on those budgets it usually cuts deep and fast...things like early retirements, no pay raises, no training funds, no repair parts...they're a commin'...
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    It's quantitative not qualitative...always has been during war

    This argument is nothing new and most of these "fixes" are temporary to keep the numbers at a reasonable level.

    I am not sure the numbers support your claim that folks are "hiding out" in...
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