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.