COIN v. Conventional Capability Debate

[SteveMetz]

As Ron said t me over lunch the other day, "he does not completely agree with his previous position!" ...and to be fair, this is taking his quote out of context.

Actually, in terms of "victory" is believe this to be correct. In terms of "peace" it fails to be useful. Few, if any Insurgents have ever been defeated by a "military victory,". What seems to defeat them is "peace" - as in security and the denial of their ability to threaten it, so I think we may be in agreement.

Fair enough!

I need to come up with some more pithy epithets that people use in their signature line. But that's not easy for me: I'm often described as pith poor.

[William F. Owen]

What would happen if a couple of combat brigades in Iraq had to pick up, move in a certain direction and conduct a sustained land operation in the field without fixed bases for support for 3 months?

Excellent point - so it's not hard to identify the areas of deficiency? What you seem to be talking about is Formation level manoeuvre. Am I correct?

Fair enough!
I need to come up with some more pithy epithets that people use in their signature line. But that's not easy for me: I'm often described as pith poor.

...and that Sir, is why you are both a scholar and a Gentleman.