What's a fella to do, when nation-building from scratch?

By The Armorer on April 28, 2008 | | Comments (7)

...and facing a fanatically persistent and destabilizing Insurgency?

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SGM Curtis L. Regan CJTF-82, CJ-3 Bagram, Afghanistan, has some thoughts. (Cue angst-ridden Homo Neanderthalensis)

Counter-Insurgency - so easy a caveman could do it. Okay, maybe not that easy. Admittedly, Counter-insurgency operations are inherently complex and place great demands on everyone involved. Nation Building is equally difficult – the complexities even greater when insurgents are allowed to meet political and ideological objectives. Historically U.S. Forces have supported insurgents in toppling oppressive governments, and given the historical success of insurgencies, the task of executing a well-planned counter-insurgency strategy takes on greater significance.

These somewhat unconventional military operations are designed to establish law and order in unstable areas outside of the US and its territories. However, the mere presence of armed forces certainly does not guarantee stability. Political and military unity is necessary to defeat enemies who oppose a stable and secure environment. The ability of Armed forces to
win this Counterinsurgency is directly related to America’s perceived will to deploy its troops as long as necessary to achieve our political objectives. Our Congressional and Legislative bodies must enhance the capabilities and legitimacy of the Nation’s military efforts and leverage interagency and multinational cooperation toward these collective goals.

The Nation is best served when Congress remains focused toward concrete resolution of all armed conflict. The effectiveness of the Military’s collective efforts overseas speaks well for the institutional soul of today’s Armed Forces. Our values and the laws governing warfare teach us to respect human dignity, maintain our honesty, and do what is right. Adherence to our values distinguishes us from terrorists, insurgents, and other lawless factions. The ultimate success of this Counter-Insurgency Operation depends on maintaining the obligatory value systems in all that we do, and that we continue to occupy the moral high ground, be it with prisoners of war, suspected enemy personnel, or our own countrymen.

The necessity and required outcome of this conflict remain unchanged. Strong resolute men must remain steadfast in the prosecution of terrorists and insurgent forces and a strong, capable, self-reliant Nation must follow in the wake of fanatical tyranny. Evil must be eradicated, and ideology must be constrained to lawful and legitimate means of debate. Free people must be endowed with the choice of personal religious practices, the pursuit of happiness, and the rewards that come with hard work, creative thinking, and personal expressions of excellence. Coercion, abuse of power, and tyrannical submission of individual rights and liberties cannot go unchecked.

So where are we?

If you want to find out where the Sergeant Major thinks we are - you'll have to click here. I will say that when the staff at CJTF-82 decide to editorialize, they're not shy. Here we've got the Sergeant Major offering instruction to Congress, and a little earlier this year, we had a fella telling Dutch politician Geert Wilders that he shouldn't oughta go showing his film about Islam, which struck a spark with Uncle Jimbo over at Blackfive (and I would note that BCR chimed in with the hallelujah chorus - hey, BCR - more *ahem* flaunting!). That op-ed, btw, has been moved inside their firewall and is no longer available. SFCMac over at The Foxhole has goodly chunks of it excerpted.

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7 Comments

By kat-missouri on April 28, 2008 10:10 AM
So I note, under each section of things to accomplish in counter-insurgency, is the "physical" and the "moral". hmmm.... Now to translate that to global comms.
 
By Argent on April 28, 2008 10:38 AM
To me there is something wrong with the article. It looks fine on the surface but there are aspects which are unsettling. I wish I could pinpoint the exact problem i have with it. One is the obvious nature of it. It could have been written years before Afghanistan. Another is it's marketing tone. I'll let you know if i figure it out.
 
By kat-missouri on April 28, 2008 10:45 AM
Well..whoever it is, didn't use a good spell checking program any more than Ry or I ever do. LOL
It could have been written years before Afghanistan. Another is it's marketing tone.
Isn't that what counter-insurgency is? A marketing program. Each group is trying to sell their audience on their "product"? It's why I think that people with some nice marketing skills (madison ave?) should have been recruited for our efforts. We need salesmen. fortunately, our men and women in uniform are what you might call "the product speaks for itself". The best kind of marketing in the world of sales. Suddenly, everybody is talking about this fantastic product they tried out in the market place of ideas and, guess what? Freedom and Democracy really works!
 
By John of Argghhh! on April 28, 2008 12:04 PM
I'm interested in the communal take on the piece is, and I also just wanted to sneek in a gunpic.
 
By Cannoneer No. 4 on April 28, 2008 4:22 PM
The media alone can make the difference between success and failure, particularly in elongated military operations and global campaigns like the ones we are currently engaging in Iraq and Afghanistan. These Counter-Insurgency operations on both sides of the conflict occur in the public view. This includes continuous observation by domestic and international media as well as face-to-face interaction with the local population. Knowing this, opponents will size on relatively minor incidents to achieve political advantages. Potentially, a single act of indiscipline or rash application of force can undo months or even years of disciplined efforts. Likewise, actions that are destructive to the natural or cultural environment may introduce negative perceptions that must be overcome at a later date. The intent is to demonstrate strength and resolve without provoking an unintended consequence. It is our own media that neuters us, making it necessary to pussyfoot around instead of killing enough people and breaking enough things to convince the survivors to return to the reservation, prolonging the war and getting Good Guys killed. Jacksonians detest such pettifoggery. Defecate or get off the pot. • Western News Media The western press is here in Iraq, and they are curious about what we do. Again, transparency is essential, and our enthusiasm in providing access speaks volumes of our intentions. The same can be said of the so-called “hometown” news agencies, which might not have a presence in Iraq, but can certainly be targeted through direct communication. Enthusiasm. I'm glad I'm out. There ain't enough mouthwash.
 
By Cannoneer No. 4 on April 28, 2008 5:05 PM
The United States has granted veto power over any military operation it might attempt to whoever can delegitimize the mission and kill domestic support. All current and future enemies and adversaries have to do to paralyze us is partner with domestic oppositional elements such as anti-war organizations, anti-Administration politicians, wealthy Hungarian benefactors, the Perpetually Aggrieved, Guilty White Liberals, the Politically Correct, Multi-cultural Carbon Dispensationist Transnational Progressives who can be relied upon to activate their As Sahab media arms in a coordinated effort to magnify all imperfections, exaggerate all negative aspects, accept at face value all enemy narratives, treat all friendly narratives with withering scorn and total skepticsm, and hamsting any effort to employ American power.
 
By John of Argghhh! on April 28, 2008 7:13 PM
Ah, it's nice to read such... clarity! #4 sees little gray!