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When is the United States military going to knuckle down and teach its officers and men counter insurgency warfare? When is it going to insist on the highest standards of personal conduct from all its personnel, whether in so-called ‘elite’ units or in the ‘ordinary ‘line’ units?
Who can teach it these skills?
Not the I.D.F, which, despite an extremely high opinion of itself, has a doctrine poisoned by cynicism and hate from having to enforce an illegal military occupation on a civilian population for 40 years.
Not the French Army, which would be politically unable to assist, even if it wanted too.
No, the British Army is probably the best teacher. It has painfully learned C.I. tactics and philosophy during four decades of post colonialism and notably against the world’s most sophisticated urban terrorist/freedom fighter outfit – the I.R.A. (1969-1997).
There is absolutely no reason the United States military can’t become a first rate C.I force, provided it accepts that Counter Insurgency warfare:
1) Requires courage and skill – it isn’t some form of wimp warfare suited to Europeans and Canadians
2) Demands the highest standards of personal and unit discipline, often in the face of extreme provocation.
3) Often peters out or ends in a messy compromise of a negotiated settlement – no victory parades, or speeches from the quarterdecks of battleships. Dubya actually got that bit right.
Sadly I see little sign the U.S military is willing to do much more than pay lip service to any of the above points. Instead there seems to be a mood of frustration, and anger and bafflement that the Iraqis and Afghans are more grateful for all the sacrifices made.
Never mind, if they just hang on in there the next President (regardless of party) will have them out of Iraq within months of taking office.
