tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955273524757178757.post1313702019361519482..comments2024-02-06T08:33:52.695+02:00Comments on Eeben Barlow's Military and Security Blog: WHY THE ARMED FORCES FAIL AT COINEeben Barlow's Milsec Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08942119485068301545noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955273524757178757.post-33861421642757009462013-08-10T09:13:49.341+02:002013-08-10T09:13:49.341+02:00I believe that doctrine must tell us how to do thi...I believe that doctrine must tell us how to do things and not what to do, Purgatus. That said, doctrine is both dynamic and flexible and cannot be viewed as a rigid approach to anything. But, it is formulated using numerous factors such as past experience, lessons learnt, the OE and AO and so forth. <br /><br />No matter how politically incorrect it may be, the South African bush wars – had many very important lessons that could have been transposed onto numerous COIN AOs. The only lesson the US and its allies took was the mine-protected vehicle. We called them MPVs and not MRAPs and were using them as far back as 1979 but they were used for motorised infantry and were never construed as mechanised infantry vehicles. <br /><br />As I have never been on the ground in either country you speak of, I therefore feel I am not qualified to answer your question. However, I believe it is a doctrinal failure to expect the armed forces to govern. Whereas the armed forces must create a climate in which to govern, the government departments/civil service must do their jobs. <br /><br />By expecting the armed forces to govern created numerous situations where they lost sight of military objectives and instead focussed on civil actions, thereby losing the initiative. <br /><br />I could go on for ages but would probably bore everyone.<br /><br />Rgds,<br /><br />Eeben<br />Eeben Barlow's Milsec Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08942119485068301545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955273524757178757.post-14551223135523649952013-04-06T01:41:12.214+02:002013-04-06T01:41:12.214+02:00Hello Eeben,
I am an Iraq war veteran (U.S. Marin...Hello Eeben,<br /><br />I am an Iraq war veteran (U.S. Marine Corps, Fallujah 2005-2006).<br /><br />Upon my return home I pursued a bachelor's degree and studies COIN doctrine quite closely as a matter of personal an academic interest.<br /><br />I would be very interested for you to dive a bit deeper into these thoughts, specifically in terms of the doctrines appropriate for effective COIN. <br /><br />I would specifically ask for your thoughts on Gen. Paetraeus and Col. Kilcullen and their work on U.S. COIN doctrines. <br /><br />Purgatushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04434824912752472018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955273524757178757.post-12490489184571496612013-01-19T08:36:43.738+02:002013-01-19T08:36:43.738+02:00Very true, Mike.
When someone has the inability t...Very true, Mike.<br /><br />When someone has the inability to express him/herself without having to resort to blasphemy and foul language, you suspect that he/she has crept out from under a rock. When he/she is unable to check the spelling on a computer, you know he/she has escaped from under a rock. <br /><br />I would love to post some of these anonymous comments but do not do so because of the vile language. The world is full of agent provocateurs but sooner or later they are exposed for what they are.<br /><br />Rgds,<br /><br />Eeben<br />Eeben Barlow's Milsec Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08942119485068301545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955273524757178757.post-84278742227077422452013-01-16T20:06:31.013+02:002013-01-16T20:06:31.013+02:00How to spot a Troll, step 1.
If the dude posts obs...How to spot a Troll, step 1.<br />If the dude posts obsenities and a supposed higher than thou opinion as an ANONYMOUS poster. He (she) does not have the stones to make their comments by their name. A true soldier or person of honour would stand to their word and make it known in open forum. Those who post the type of tripe you received from ANONYMOUS just proves how dilly these "agent provocateurs" are. If you have something to say or a bone to pick then say it openly or simply crawl back into your little tiny teeny hole and keep quiet. <br /><br />I recently wrote a silly piece on my blog pertaining to the ANONYMOUS hacktivist group where i give my 2 cents worth on how i percieve the group and its obvious shortfalls, i did so using not only my name but my picture so there is no mistaking who is saying precisely what. Funnily enough this tongue in cheek post has had the highest number of views, i am quite bemused by this as i definately wrote it from an off the cuff manner and even asked ANONYMOUS to please hack my bank account and deposit some cash in it for me (alas, to date my account is still R1.85cents!)<br /><br />It sure has taken Robert Black a long, long time to finally discover that Patrick Haseldine is a clueless buffoon. It has only taken a year+ to suss him out as a deranged camper.(Then again he is a huge legal brain in Britain)-- i am still looking for the sarcasm intended button on my keyboard--<br /><br />This dude ANON seems to be aligned from what i read in your response to the United Nations possibly who still believe that they are seriously doing good! The funniest thing is that whenever you google images for "misery, war, starvation, opression you normally find pictures of the UN somewhere in there. The dudes parade around in their nifty blue helmets and berets but stand idly by as warlords loot right in front of them. I say take their weapons away and give them pompoms so they can cheerlead.<br /><br />The minute someone starts a post comment with over the top swearing and blasphemy of any religion you can be sure that dude is in no way actually in the field or in the know, hell i would hazard a guess that they are not even outside of their lounge.<br /><br />How can anyone decide that your post is in any way harmful or war mongering in any way whatsoever? (a keyboard warrior, thats who)<br /><br />Best regards: Mike (just my 2 cents worth)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04008570891301616458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955273524757178757.post-6623146201659655972013-01-14T14:54:31.974+02:002013-01-14T14:54:31.974+02:00You can interpret my posting any way you want, Ano...You can interpret my posting any way you want, Anon. I write what I know and what I see and if you and your friends want to interpret it as criticism against French, US and UK policy, then that is your right. However, if you look at the posting carefully along with my posting “Why governments fail” – you will note that there are many reasons why good men die when they are sent to fight for causes they do not fully appreciate, against enemies they do not understand and in terrain/environments they are unable to cope in. That is not criticism but fact.<br /><br />These deaths are the result of essentially two things: Lack of intelligence and a lack of a realistic strategy/operational design. (Even France’s Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian admitted that they had “underestimated” the enemy in Somalia). Again, with no intelligence on an enemy, no one can make even the faintest of predictions. Included in “strategy” is having a strategic vision and being able to predict enemy intentions and actions. One cannot simply assume that because you have technology, you will win. Unless, of course, the entire aim is to ensure protracted conflicts and wars and make sure the enemy can triumph.<br /><br />If my blog can save the life of a single soldier and help politicians understand war and conflict a bit better, I will be happy. However, your comments that “no @#&*# wonder we hate your guts” is like water off a duck’s back. I write and do what I do to hopefully give soldiers a chance in the field. If people like you don’t like that, it is your problem and not mine – but then the intentions of sending men off to die must be seriously questioned.<br /><br />Rgds,<br /><br />Eeben<br /><br />PS: I will not post a comment filled with blasphemy and foul language. Also, please ask someone to show you how to check spelling on your computer. <br />Eeben Barlow's Milsec Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08942119485068301545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955273524757178757.post-60021362612644990342013-01-13T09:34:08.402+02:002013-01-13T09:34:08.402+02:00It seems as though some people are unable to disti...It seems as though some people are unable to distinguish between fact and fantasy, Mike. Thanks for passing it on. As you know, we are aware of Mr Haseldine’s disinformation campaigns. It is sad when grown men have nothing other to do than generate disinformation – and don’t get me wrong, I was no fan of Gen Malan and the feeling was very mutual.<br /><br />Rgds,<br /><br />Eeben<br />Eeben Barlow's Milsec Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08942119485068301545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955273524757178757.post-60842048400984864632013-01-10T17:50:15.547+02:002013-01-10T17:50:15.547+02:00Hi Eeben, a little off topic but this little nugge...Hi Eeben, a little off topic but this little nugget just popped up in my inbox. Seems it takes some people a little longer to grasp when someone is a dunce and total charlatan.<br /><br />Robert Black has left a new comment on the post "General Magnus Malan": <br /><br />Since the date of this exchange, I have, because of the ravings of Patrick Haseldine, been reluctantly driven to introduce pre-moderation of comments. Mr Haseldine is now barred from commenting on this blog and readers are warned that he is a malign fantasist with not a scintilla of evidence for his "theories". <br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04008570891301616458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955273524757178757.post-26692581328226385662013-01-03T11:40:23.637+02:002013-01-03T11:40:23.637+02:00Thanks for those great quotes, Tango. What many pe...Thanks for those great quotes, Tango. What many people fail to realise is that the armed forces often become the victim of poor political strategic policies, guidelines and decisions and are often misled in terms of government policy. <br /><br />Professional soldiers know the responsibility they carry with them – as well as the risks. As Gen Schwarzkopf very correctly stated “. Any soldier worth his salt should be antiwar. And still, there are things to worth fighting for.”<br /><br />Rgds,<br /><br />Eeben<br />Eeben Barlow's Milsec Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08942119485068301545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955273524757178757.post-81561347200840140732013-01-03T11:38:29.004+02:002013-01-03T11:38:29.004+02:00Thanks, Herbert. This is actually another extract ...Thanks, Herbert. This is actually another extract from my forthcoming book – and must be read in conjunction with a previous posting titled “Why governments fail...” What I wish to illustrate in particular is that the government must work with its armed forces (unity of effort) and not in a different direction. <br /><br />Whereas the armed forces are tasked to find and kill the enemy – or force the enemy to lay down his weapons – unconditionally, governments need to accept both accountability and responsibility for losing the conflict. The perception that the armed forces are alone responsible for the mess is simply a manner in which politicians attempt to divert criticism away from their own incompetence and shortcomings. <br /><br />When government strategies and those of the armed forces are not aimed at a common end-goal, the wheels will definitely fall off the wagon. But, the armed forces are not blameless. They too need to take responsibility for poor strategies, a lack of leadership, poor training, lack of equipment, bad discipline and so forth. <br /><br />Rgds,<br /><br />Eeben<br />Eeben Barlow's Milsec Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08942119485068301545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955273524757178757.post-16819654652562918062013-01-03T08:12:12.893+02:002013-01-03T08:12:12.893+02:00Eeben ,
A great post
Regards
Tango
It made me th...Eeben ,<br />A great post<br />Regards<br />Tango<br /><br /><br />It made me think of the following quotes:<br />“War does not determine who is right- only who is left.” ~Bertrand Russell<br /><br />“A professional soldier understands that war means killing people, war means maiming people, war means families left without fathers and mothers. All you have to do is hold your first dying soldier in your arms, and have that terribly futile feeling that his life is flowing out and you can’t do anything about it. Then you understand the horror of war. Any soldier worth his salt should be antiwar. And still, there are things to worth fighting for.” ~ Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf ( RIP )Tangohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12651381316753084396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-955273524757178757.post-1325351101576059272013-01-02T21:00:49.095+02:002013-01-02T21:00:49.095+02:00Eeben,
Very well done. You have thoroughly and t...Eeben,<br /><br />Very well done. You have thoroughly and thoughtfully laid out your points on this evolution which will continue as long as man is on this earth. I would just hope that governments and armed forces who undertake counterinsurgencies would attempt to first digest your exposition of the hurdles their armed forces must navigate. My guess is that they will leap first--as usual.<br /><br />As I mentioned in a comment a year or so ago, I have lost faith in the ability of at least western governments to successfully prosecute a counterinsurgency. They have neither the spirit nor the stomach to see it out. I realize that your post refers to armed forces, but, and as you point out, complete coordinated support from the government is critical. That is all too often where the grip is lost.<br /><br />Rgds,<br />Herbert Herberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10905087011597189605noreply@blogger.com