Excellent article and I can recall, without references, that the British Army, let alone the UK government, were astonished at the situation in Northern Ireland wayback in 1969 when troops were deployed to assist the police. In the late 70's when I was there it was very different from the mainland, for examples local customs and religious intensity.

It took the UK a long time to learn and understand the local context. Sheiks by another name?

Given the introduction of a foriegn army is not unique, as an outsider, I still am puzzled that so much depends on hands on learning and then an amount is lost with rotation (Yes, mentioned before on other threads).

A recent BBC-TV News short report on the Italian contribution in Afghanistan included an Afghan criticism that every six months the Italians started to learn again.

davidbfpo