Tom,

I didn't copy the whole of what I meant to post - what I wanted to get at was at what level are we thinking about tribe/sub-tribe/clan and the effects of it. I really think that at that company/battery/troop level, our guys ought to be thinking about it (thus the need for the company level intel support team - and a smart Commander) to understand motivations. I know that the MNC-I/MND/BCT staffs are, but from what I know of staffs in 2004-2005 from personal experience and from the students I taught as an SGI and from what I saw in 2007-2008, I know that many (and I hate generalizations too) battalion staffs are not. Too bad for us and too bad for our Soldiers - and their families. I just think that extensive tribal knowledge at the battalion and company level goes a long way.

Scott