http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41770667/ns/world_news-the_new_york_times/
Are we going back to the days of take the hill, then give it back to the enemy so we can take it again? This region has...
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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41770667/ns/world_news-the_new_york_times/
Are we going back to the days of take the hill, then give it back to the enemy so we can take it again? This region has...
Good article, and it supports many of previous assessments.
Posted by Slapout,
that is definitely part of it, and a reason the population centric approach alone won't work. You won't defeat the ISI in the villages of Afghanistan. There is also the...
Where does it state that COIN requires a functioning government? If you buy into Bob's World's arguments then the conditions were set for insurgency because the State wasn't functioning well to begin...
Ken,
I agree with you, especially since the facts support your argument. There have been many larger incidents over the years to include political assassination attempts, major north Korean SOF...
As we all know this is not new, not even close to being new. The fact that isn't new doesn't distract from the growing importance of bio-metrics, but let's not forget we have methods for identifying...
Chris as you know, technology constantly evolves and how we decide to adapt or employ it enhances (or detracts) from our ability to do our job, but it doesn't define our purpose and we're clearly not...
I agree with the first part of your assessment that poverty is not the leading cause for insurgencies, that is simply a figment of liberal imagination. In some cases it may argued that poverty...
I'm a big advocate for expanding our view and doctrine for conflict, but to be frank I have been very disappointed with all the new ideas since 9/11 that have gotten us no where (it takes a network...
We'll agree on the danger that major corporations present, and large media companies like Fox, CNN, CBS do more to shape public opinion and identity than the White House. I like that the idea that...
Appreciate Bob's assist, numerous studies have indicated that poverty does not cause rebellions, that is simply one of the many rallying lines employed by those rebelling. Leaders count, because...
I think there are a lot of variables that need to considered, clearly the U.S. and the U.K. were victorious in WWII, but can the same be said about France, the Philippines, China, Burma, Italy, etc.?...
where has poverty ever been the cause for rebellion?
Graycap,
I'm not so sure this topic is derailing the thread, but if you feel it is I think it would be worthwhile to start a thread discussing this. I'm shocked by the inefficiency of police in...
Assuming that beheading dead Taliban was authorized (just exploring an idea here), what good would come out of it?
What would the psychological (if any) impact be on the Taliban? Would they be...
Posted by Graycap,
Graycap, thanks for this post. Italy has always fascinated me. In the north you have a very modern and successful society, while in the south you something that looks like...
Jedburgh, that's a polite way of saying the system is broke. I love my analysts, but the bottom line is they can't tell me what I need to know. I get better intell from the operators, intell...
USMC-03 posted
Running 3 miles in around 20 minutes represents a high level of fitness (but as you stated, it definitely does make you an elite runner). However, you can't automatically...
Ken, you're so right on this one, the 3:1 madness that has polluted our thinking is destroying a lot of good options. The 3:1 metric was designed for a frontal assault against a peer enemy, so if...
Posted by Bob,
As long as we have the pencil neck generals we'll have a geek PT test. I remember when we had the excessive push to have photo op boys who were very lean, but couldn't do squat...
this is only true in some cases, in others you're damn right there is no legal means for a minority to establish a communist form of government or implement Shari'a law. In your view the government...
All quotes are from Bob,
You’re trying to redefine war as strictly an activity between States which in my view is very close minded and worse doesn’t conform to reality. Al Qaeda is an...
Posted by Bob,
Bob, I understand where you're going with this, but I disagree. If we can agree on the nature of war as an armed dual, I don't even think all the entities need to be States. ...
There are many who participate in the SWJ discussions more qualified than I to give the "correct" book answer, but in my view and losely paraphrasing Clausewitz the essential nature of war is that it...
Michael,
The war is war statement you often hear repeated isn't from an anti-intellectual crowd. I think if you research the origins of it more closely you'll find that those who propose this...