As we sort of declare victory in Iraq, we seem to be sending Marines to Afghanistan. With all their vast experience in Iraq, they ought to mop up in Afghanistan in six months. Surge? Nah, we'll send in the Marines. Okay, that vast experience gained in Iraq, is not going to work in Afghanistan.
The Marines have heavy MRAPS which are great for roads but not worth a damn chasing Taliban across rocky fields. The Marines try to climb mountains and steep hills wearing 60 pounds of body armor. The bad guys run away. Even the armored Humvees can't take it in Afghanistan--too much weight and too little transmission. Logistics lessons seem to be spent. Suggestions?
The enemy is different also. The Afghan war is not one of terrorists using snipers and IEDS. Afghan society is definitely not like Iraqi socitey. Remember Iraq was almost a western country for a while under Saddam and the Baathists. Women did not wear burkas. There was no Sharia. Literacy was high. Then, it fell apart for Saddam after Gulf War I. He opted into religion as a way to stay in power. Afghans have had religion for a longer time--there is a reason the Taliban succeeded in assuming power. Literacy is about 20%.
The training and lessons learned in Iraq may wind up being fatal in Afghanistan. When our "leaders" start talking about a surge, let's hope it's not designed by the guys who gave us Iraq. Afghanistan is different. The Taliban is a real enemy, not just opportunists as found amongst al_Qaeda.
It's easy to see, in a military context, how one set of vast experiences do not prepare an army for all opponents and wars. Why can't we see this in our government and our current economic problems? We seem to keep on saying all vast experience is the same. Hey, we're screwed again. Remember it took Bush four years to get it right. How many died from 2003 through 2007 until he finally decided all his vast experience was flat-assed wrong experience. Can our economy take being right once out of five tries. Surge on, with the right kind of vast experience.
Iraq Tactics Don't Work In Afghanistan
The Marines have heavy MRAPS which are great for roads but not worth a damn chasing Taliban across rocky fields. The Marines try to climb mountains and steep hills wearing 60 pounds of body armor. The bad guys run away. Even the armored Humvees can't take it in Afghanistan--too much weight and too little transmission. Logistics lessons seem to be spent. Suggestions?
The enemy is different also. The Afghan war is not one of terrorists using snipers and IEDS. Afghan society is definitely not like Iraqi socitey. Remember Iraq was almost a western country for a while under Saddam and the Baathists. Women did not wear burkas. There was no Sharia. Literacy was high. Then, it fell apart for Saddam after Gulf War I. He opted into religion as a way to stay in power. Afghans have had religion for a longer time--there is a reason the Taliban succeeded in assuming power. Literacy is about 20%.
The training and lessons learned in Iraq may wind up being fatal in Afghanistan. When our "leaders" start talking about a surge, let's hope it's not designed by the guys who gave us Iraq. Afghanistan is different. The Taliban is a real enemy, not just opportunists as found amongst al_Qaeda.
It's easy to see, in a military context, how one set of vast experiences do not prepare an army for all opponents and wars. Why can't we see this in our government and our current economic problems? We seem to keep on saying all vast experience is the same. Hey, we're screwed again. Remember it took Bush four years to get it right. How many died from 2003 through 2007 until he finally decided all his vast experience was flat-assed wrong experience. Can our economy take being right once out of five tries. Surge on, with the right kind of vast experience.
Iraq Tactics Don't Work In Afghanistan
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2 Comments:
Ridiculous. Fiasco.
So how about that bailout? Past, present and future.
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