I remain in awe of Grand Ayatollah Sistani's moral conviction not to engage in politics if at all possible. Must be the hardest thing when battle rages, or threatens to rage all around.

Same with those in Iran. Sometimes you wish they would jump in, but it must be a very high and hard road.

But the same COIN criticism could be raised about politics.

Personally, I wish folks in the field had a basic primer in the practical and administrative aspects of political organization and operation (at the internal and sub-national levels, not foreign policy/nation state stuff) It would make life easier.

But how much can you pack into a Field Manual?

Steve