Comments on: Is COIN Even Appropriate?

By: Repair Manuals

Repair Manuals — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 23:02:17 +0000

Repair Manuals…

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By: Michael

Michael — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 01:31:45 +0000

Another idea (albeit a deeply ironic idea) I just had: Saudi Arabia. They have lots of money, high unemployment, demonstrable cultural similarities with the Pashtun and a strong interest in seeing the Taliban (and their Al Qaeda brethren) lose. Not sure it’s the best idea I’ve ever had, but it’s counter-intuitive enough to be interesting, anyway . . .

By: AJK

AJK — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 05:27:58 +0000

@Michael

I can’t help you much on 1 or 3, but I find #2 interesting. My first thought every time I hear this question is “Duh, Turkey” because it’s a militaristic and predominantly Muslim country that’s a member of NATO. And it has 1,300 troops in Wardak. The only problem is, it would be tough politically for Erdogan (or even Basbug) to lead the occupation of a Muslim country. Even a Central Asian one that makes some folks think wistfully of a Pax Turania.

What I think would be an interesting idea (albeit one that I stole from Hugh Pope) is to have the Netherlands and Germany, with a decent number of Turks in their armed forces, take a more prominent role. That way people on the ground get to see “friendly faces” in a tortured, Robert Kaplan-esque way, but its still done under the aegis of a European country that can afford the political blowback.

There’s probably a more thought-out explanation of this I could do, but it’ll have to wait.

By: Jimmy Bryant

Jimmy Bryant — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 22:49:56 +0000

Wow, thanks for sharing, I have learned so much here on your site, thought I’d let you know your efforts are appreciated. Parts of the world like that are to remind us that we can never allow that to happen here.

By: Michael

Michael — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 22:45:01 +0000

Non-rhetorical questions:
1. How much of Afghanistan actually needs pacifying?
2. Are there countries out there with a better shot at winning hearts and minds there than us?
3. I’ve seen wisecracks about Karzai’s government not having any power beyond the outskirts of Kabul. Are any of the regional or local governments better equipped to earn their people’s loyalty?

By: Sekundar

Sekundar — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 12:48:52 +0000

Shouldn’t we actually try COIN first?

By: M Shannon

M Shannon — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 12:37:39 +0000

COIN is basically policing so you have to ask yourself if you had a gang infested neighborhood in Chicago where most people distrusted the police and were afraid of the gangsters would you:

a) change the cops every six months or a year,
b) employ cops who don’t speak English,
c) regularly kill innocent locals,
d) let some gangsters continue to shake down the locals,
e) have 90% of your cops stay in the station house 90% of the time,
f) have only one cop for every 30 square blocks.

Most US COIN doctrine is from French sources and they lost despite wanting to stay in Indo-China and Algeria whereas the US has signaled it want’s out of Afghanistan quickly. So you have a failed doctrine being used by a military particularly ill-suited to a long slow slog in a campaign that domestic pressures will push to quick resolution.

By: JohnnyB

JohnnyB — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:55:39 +0000

Joshua: I read your post every day. You do fantastic work.
Thank you for your efforts. Because of you and others that write what is not found in newspapers, I’ve started my own Blog because I can’t take the innocent lives being lost in the Mid-East and Central Asia. It’s my small way to “do something” I have used your posts. My blog is only a few days old. http://outofcentralasianow.wordpress.com/
Thanks again for your work.