[quote]Tainan Cowboy:
HG -
I have been waiting for someone to post a thread about this essay. Perhaps you might do so.
My views re:it might surprise you.
Here is a link to the magazine in which it was featured:
http://usacac.leavenworth.army.mil/CAC/milreview/English/NovDec05/index.asp
And here is a link to a pdf of the article itself:
http://usacac.leavenworth.army.mil/CAC/milreview/download/English/NovDec05/aylwin.pdf
As always, I do hope people actually read the piece before commenting on its aim and content. [/quote]
Agreed and curious. I’d add another caveat, that (there’s always hope!) it doesn’t turn into an anti-American rant.
From another review in the Christian Science Monitor:
[quote]While US officers in Iraq criticized their allies for being too reluctant to use force, their strategy was “to kill or capture all terrorists and insurgents: they saw military destruction of the enemy as a strategic goal in its own right.” In short, the brigadier says, “the US army has developed over time a singular focus on conventional warfare, of a particularly swift and violent kind.”
Such an unsophisticated approach, ingrained in American military doctrine, is counter-productive, exacerbating the task the US faced by alienating significant sections of the population, argues Brig Aylwin-Foster.[/quote]
This is what I’m afraid of. Hearts and minds is crucial in the war of terror, in my book.
Having never served in the US military I realise I know Jack shit about the real situation, so I am genuinely interested in the views of others.
Perosnally I think the article may be a good start to a decent debate, which itself may lead to overcoming any shortcomings.
Ever the optimist.
Edit:
Changed the thread name to better reflect the relevant article.
HG