The David Kilcullen Collection (merged thread)

[Backwards Observer]

Kilcullen suggests that the takfiris have made the world their theatre of operation, with the endstate being the renewal of the Islamic caliphate and expansion of Islam to the whole of the world. (from Karaka Pend's review)

So is the military involvement in the Great Commission a response to this? How effective do you see it being in the long run?

6. Change Continents for Christ. Working through indigenous military leaders, we help to train, equip and send military members in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America into their own nations in the name of Jesus.

http://www.charitychoices.com/charit...in/default.asp

[MikeF]

So is the military involvement in the Great Commission a response to this? How effective do you see it being in the long run?

http://www.charitychoices.com/charit...in/default.asp

Number 6 is interesting. That's probably a topic worthy of it own thread.

[Backwards Observer]

Number 6 is interesting.

One of my relatives was a Brigadier General in the Malaysian Army. As a Christian (does being Catholic count?), he may also find it interesting. Are there any metrics I might be able to share with him? He's also interested in the Golf Commission, are the two linked by any chance?

[MikeF]

One of my relatives was a Brigadier General in the Malaysian Army. As a Christian (does being Catholic count?), he may also find it interesting. Are there any metrics I might be able to share with him? He's also interested in the Golf Commission, are the two linked by any chance?

I don't know. My brother is a pastor that does extensive mission work in Kenya and other parts of Africa with other pastors. I'll ask him. This seems odd to me that we'd work FID through the Great Commission or is it the Great Commission through FID? I've heard rumors of others doing that in Burma, but it seems like too much colllusion in my mind.

[Backwards Observer]

This seems odd to me that we'd work FID through the Great Commission or is it the Great Commission through FID?

Mike, thanks for your reply. I don't mean to put you on the spot, I get the feeling that this is a topic without any easy answers. It seems odd to me as well, but it's not easy to judge what a superpower believes to be feasible. If Indonesia is seen as being the next hotspot, will converting the Kopassus to Christianity prevent a flare-up?

[MikeF]

Mike, thanks for your reply. I don't mean to put you on the spot, I get the feeling that this is a topic without any easy answers. It seems odd to me as well, but it's not easy to judge what a superpower believes to be feasible. If Indonesia is seen as being the next hotspot, will converting the Kopassus to Christianity prevent a flare-up?

No worries. This is a continual debate that I have with my brother. As you probably figured out, I'm a Christian. But, as a commander, I had Jews, Muslims, Mormons, Athiests, and Goth dudes under my command. At work, I was a-religious. The only time that I prayed with my boys was when we lost four of our troop. That's the way that I saw it. Moreover, while working with my Iraqi counterparts, we'd discuss religion as a process of discovery to learning from each other- not looking to convert. Instead, it was a means to better establish our personal relationships through understanding each other's backgrounds.

My brother would tell me that I had a duty to preach. I disagreed. That's why I suggested that your point would be better discussed in a separate thread.

Otherwise, we'll slide into discussion of Armagedon and the end of times.

For this thread, I just want to discuss David Kilcullen, a man that I love to read and listen to and adamently disagree with at times.

[Backwards Observer]

My brother would tell me that I had a duty to preach. I disagreed. That's why I suggested that your point would be better discussed in a separate thread.

Otherwise, we'll slide into discussion of Armagedon and the end of times.

For this thread, I just want to discuss David Kilcullen, a man that I love to read and listen to and adamently disagree with at times.

Mike, thanks for your indulgence and sorry for the derailment. Your response is more than fair.

[William F. Owen]

For this thread, I just want to discuss David Kilcullen, a man that I love to read and listen to and adamently disagree with at times.

Amen. Nice guy as well, but having been a fan of his Infantry writing, I have come to disagree a lot with what he writes about COIN or what folks ascribe to him.
BUT:-

1. What kind of state are we trying to build or assist?

2. How compatible is the local government's character with our own?

3. What kinds of states have proven viable in the past, in this country and with this population?

4. What evidence is there that the kind of state we are trying to build will be viable here?

...and so what? Every one of those questions are policy questions. Dave is way outside his pay grade. These are questions for the Foreign Policy, and they assume that irregular warfare will take place in the context of that policy - which is not true.
You could have asked those questions about Nazi Germany. It would not have helped you win the war.

[MikeF]

One lesson that I learned through the hard lessons of platoon leader and company command in combat that was reinforced in the advanced studies of academia was the importance of asking the right questions when trying to understand difficult problem sets.

Regardless of whether one is trying to conduct initial IPB (Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield) of a new AOR (Area of Responsibility) in a small war or embarking on a master's thesis, the questions asked drive the process.

Dr. Kilcullen begins with these questions that drives his thoughts,

1. What kind of state are we trying to build or assist?

2. How compatible is the local government's character with our own?

3. What kinds of states have proven viable in the past, in this country and with this population?

4. What evidence is there that the kind of state we are trying to build will be viable here?

Is he asking the right questions?

I'm about 50/50 with him. I think that he missed two big questions.

[Kevin23]

One lesson that I learned through the hard lessons of platoon leader and company command in combat that was reinforced in the advanced studies of academia was the importance of asking the right questions when trying to understand difficult problem sets.

Regardless of whether one is trying to conduct initial IPB (Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield) of a new AOR (Area of Responsibility) in a small war or embarking on a master's thesis, the questions asked drive the process.

Dr. Kilcullen begins with these questions that drives his thoughts,



Is he asking the right questions?

I'm about 50/50 with him. I think that he missed two big questions.

What two questions do you think he missed? As I am also in the process of reading Kilcullen's 2nd book right now.

Btw, I think this thread would be better placed in a another section since it is about a book and related discussion then recent news.

[MikeF]

What two questions do you think he missed? As I am also in the process of reading Kilcullen's 2nd book right now.

Btw, I think this thread would be better placed in a another section since it is about a book and related discussion then recent news.

My bad if I placed it in the wrong section.

Okay, IMO, other questions to consider,

1. Do we intervene in third-country counterinsurgencies?

2. If so, to what degree? Ranging from one advisor to a million man army.

3. Whom do we send? Ranging from political advisors to occupation forces.

4. What do they do? Ranging from advising in safe, rear areas to taking charge of clearing denied guerrilla safehavens.

The discussion, debate, and answers to those questions define the crux of the current dillemma in A'stan.