impressive

[winterbadger]

If you're afraid that we're not learning the counterinsurgency mission, take a look at these slideshows (require Powerpoint). There's some really heartwarming shots included, and some fascinating insights into life in rural Afghanistan, but my biggest takeaway is that the Marines are doing a good job understanding and executing COIN.

Which just means it's up to the the political bods (ours and theirs) to take the next step, and use the goodwill and (relative) stability to create an Afghanistan that people will prefer to life under the Taliban.

Comments

[wcg.livejournal.com]

We've been doing COIN -- by one name or another -- for a very long time.

But yeah, it's good to see a new generation of Marines internalizing the process.

[winterbadger]

Weeeell, we sure as heck weren't doing it early in the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan, and some of the writing from those who participated in those operations makes me wonder how we managed to survive long enough to get as far as we have.

But the US military has adapted and relearned those lessons. I just wish we had internalised them after Vietnam. So much less damage would have been done, not just in the current wars but in other operations I can think of in between.

[wcg.livejournal.com]

Yeah, those guys over at Small Wars Journal were voices crying in the wilderness for several years there. But COIN goes back to the Small Wars Manual of 1940 (and further).

[winterbadger]

Oh, absolutely, the discipline has been around for a long time. We just seem to keep forgetting how to do it...