Comments on: Garmsir, Again (Again)

By: Jason

Jason — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:13:48 +0000

The Marines have developed this nasty attitude that they always know better than the Army on how to do combat operations in what we used to call “low intensity warfare.” And then they get caught in Fallujah and Hellmand province, shooting everything up, and failing to resolve the situation – again. But they never learn, do they? Shame that attitude isn’t winning the battles as much as competency might.

By: Nick

Nick — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:10:15 +0000

Apparently British soldiers call this process “mowing the lawn” – you cut the grass, pat yourself on the back for a household chore well done … and then a few weeks later you have to do the whole damn thing again.

By: David M

David M — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:38:57 +0000

The Thunder Run has linked to this post in the blog post From the Front: 10/08/2009 News and Personal dispatches from the front and the home front.

By: karaka

karaka — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:52:08 +0000

I do wonder if this is something like a pilot program to address the beginning of your argument, though I agree with you that the end result should be a civilian presence, not only a martial one.

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:27:16 +0000

‘state organs looked on passively rather than exploit the successful military operations … in Kunar and Helmand. Only after repeated and insistent demands while the operations were underway were limited steps taken to spread the zone of influence of the central government in those villages in which garrisons of the Afghan forces were located. … Free material aid, distributed through the state, was given only in insignificant quantities … Consequently, the military operations could only have temporary results in stabilizing the situation in the country.’

From Soviet General Varennikov’s memoirs …. Plus ca change!