Comments on: The Snowballing Pentagon http://registan.net/index.php/2007/03/06/the-snowballing-pentagon/ Central Asia News -- All Central Asia, All The Time Sun, 12 Feb 2012 23:53:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Joshua Foust http://registan.net/index.php/2007/03/06/the-snowballing-pentagon/comment-page-1/#comment-374172 Joshua Foust Thu, 05 Apr 2007 00:44:54 +0000 http://www.registan.net/index.php/2007/03/06/the-snowballing-pentagon/#comment-374172 Yes, but it's probably my fault for not laying out a well-organized case. Barnett's idea of a "pistol-packing peace corps" is, I think, exactly the wrong approach: the problem with nation building, especially in Muslim countries, hasn't been too little militarism, but rather too much. They see us as violent conquerors, which we are. That perception does not help "win hearts and minds." So, in a sense, I'm criticizing both. Barnett for having an impractical idea, and the military for latching on to it. Yes, but it’s probably my fault for not laying out a well-organized case. Barnett’s idea of a “pistol-packing peace corps” is, I think, exactly the wrong approach: the problem with nation building, especially in Muslim countries, hasn’t been too little militarism, but rather too much. They see us as violent conquerors, which we are. That perception does not help “win hearts and minds.”

So, in a sense, I’m criticizing both. Barnett for having an impractical idea, and the military for latching on to it.

]]> By: Michael http://registan.net/index.php/2007/03/06/the-snowballing-pentagon/comment-page-1/#comment-374171 Michael Thu, 05 Apr 2007 00:18:13 +0000 http://www.registan.net/index.php/2007/03/06/the-snowballing-pentagon/#comment-374171 Umm, are you criticising Barnett's idea, or the military's chosen to take from his idea? Thinking back to what I read, my take from his books were: NCW = find good stuff to blow up, blow it up, go home 4GW = never-ending guerilla warfare Barnett's idea = have an end in mind, but be prepared for achieving it to take a while and to require more than just military hardware. Am I missing something? Umm, are you criticising Barnett’s idea, or the military’s chosen to take from his idea?

Thinking back to what I read, my take from his books were:
NCW = find good stuff to blow up, blow it up, go home
4GW = never-ending guerilla warfare
Barnett’s idea = have an end in mind, but be prepared for achieving it to take a while and to require more than just military hardware.

Am I missing something?

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