Comments on: Resilience?

By: Complacence? | Kings of War

Complacence? | Kings of War — Thu, 06 May 2010 20:13:53 +0000

[...] several days ago when Thomas posted his excellent piece on the attempted carbombing in New York, Resilience? He enjoins [...]

By: Gunrunner

Gunrunner — Thu, 06 May 2010 12:06:35 +0000

Interesting GAO report on “Afghanistan’s Security Environment.”

http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d10613r.pdf

By: Gunrunner

Gunrunner — Thu, 06 May 2010 11:19:12 +0000

Ha. . .good one!

By: Daniel D

Daniel D — Wed, 05 May 2010 21:57:45 +0000

Id love to but im not in London, try Wellington NZ. Not heading down this way are you? Your number two military man was here last week.

But you can email me if youd like to continue the discussion.

By: Daniel D

Daniel D — Wed, 05 May 2010 21:51:23 +0000

“They can’t bury the United States (they haven’t nukes, yet), but they can do some very real damage that while not be enough to destroy this great nation, the damage will be enough to erode the economic strength of the nation (post 9-11 stock-market fall)”

Are you talking about AQ or Goldman Sachs? LOL :)

By: Gunrunner

Gunrunner — Wed, 05 May 2010 21:18:23 +0000

Fair enough.

I’ll be in London next, week and if you wish to discuss over a coffee, I’d be pleased to do so.

By: Daniel D

Daniel D — Wed, 05 May 2010 20:21:07 +0000

Im just trying to see what your motivation are.

Given that the actions you often endorse are part of a particular model of response I am interested to see what you think will happen in the area, what kind of outcomes such responses will generate and how far such response need to go.

As for the anti COIN thing, its ok if you are, COIN is no more of a magic panacea than anything else and I dont necessarily disagree with all of your views (I dont agree with some though) and its obvious that you have a consistent worldview (one common to the current US approach) and as you share your opinions here (as do we all) its interesting to see what you think the outcome will be of all this.

As for the broad brush, its not so broad, like I said you have endorsed a particular viewpoint which in itself is somewhat broad (US strategic goals for the region) and reiterate common themes and views that dovetail with those goals so I am just extrapolating ahead of you but correct me if I was wrong in my assessment of your large scale viewpoint on the issue.

At the end of it you have a viewpoint similar to many of those in past (and current) counterinsurgency efforts, that of a military mind not happy with the situation of the insurgency, not happy with COIN and the process in itself and seeking to introduce or impose solutions which you think will be more successful.

By: Gunrunner

Gunrunner — Wed, 05 May 2010 11:04:14 +0000

“So how many more troops, should they increase their numbers in Pakistan?”

That would be determined by an independent and thoughtful analysis conducted by force planners on the COCOM staff.

Regarding the rest of your post. . .paint much with that broad brush?

:-)

By: Daniel D

Daniel D — Tue, 04 May 2010 21:03:08 +0000

So how many more troops, should they increase their numbers in Pakistan? Im guessing you would be agreeable to strikes on Iran? Obviously more troops on the ground in Afgahnistan as well.

In fact Im guessing your not much of a fan of COIN and prefer the direct military option of invasion and occupation given what you say.

So would you be agreeable to say just outright occupation of Afghanistan, possibly Pakistan and attacks on Iran, obviously with the goal of being in the region permanently and to dominate?

By: courtneyme109

courtneyme109 — Tue, 04 May 2010 15:48:10 +0000

And not to hone too fine a point on it – as best understood – the nasty device in NYC is almost identical to the Hiz’B'Allah attacks that murdered hundreds of Teufel Hunden and French truppen in Lebanon eons ago.