Dear God, Why do we keep fighting these wars?

[Zebo]

Thanks for that link to MAJ Jim Gant's piece on the SF approach. It pretty much reinforces the correspondence and conversations I have had with others in the special operations community on how to approach the situation there.

I went to the front page of Steven Pressfield's blog to read the commentary of Brigade Intel Officer Jim Gourley to the piece and response from MAJ Gant. These are also well worth reviewing as the discussion allows a further understanding of the practicality of adopting such an approach and highlights the typical concerns which are expressed by the non-SF community.

http://blog.stevenpressfield.com/

The Army leadership as a whole is still wrestling with how to do this right. Most of the SF ODAs want to fight the war MAJ Gant's way, but there likely has to be a different approach in the cities, maybe a variant of how the French paras approached the cities in Algeria, as it looks like control of the urbanized areas is a stated priority.

Like most efforts of this type, it is a work in progress.

And thanks for your follow up link - been reading all night.

 

[PJABBER]

And thanks for your follow up link - been reading all night.

I am going to catch some ZZZZs, but if you are into operational detail as well as doctrine I've always liked Military Review. And the Special Reader Editions are particularly good on this topic. I used to read MR cover to cover and still manage to read one or two articles each edition.

The current issue -

http://usacac.army.mil/CAC2/MilitaryReview/repository/MilitaryReview_200912310001-MD.xml

COIN Special Readers

COIN I

http://usacac.army.mil/CAC2/MilitaryReview/repository/MilitaryReview_2006CR10310001-MD.xml

COIN II

http://usacac.army.mil/CAC2/MilitaryReview/repository/MilitaryReview_2008CRII08310001-MD.xml

Interagency Reader

http://usacac.army.mil/CAC2/MilitaryReview/repository/MilitaryReview_2008IAR06300001-MD.xml

 

[PJABBER]

An interesting illustration of casualties and committed forces in Afghanistan thus far. Starts off with a look at the UK contingent and then U.S. and other forces. Best viewed on a larger monitor.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2009/nov/13/information-beautiful-afghanistan