Pentagon rethinking value of major counterinsurgencies

[kpete]

Source: McClatchy

Pentagon rethinking value of major counterinsurgencies
By Nancy A. Youssef | McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON — Nearly a decade after the United States began to focus its military training and equipment purchases almost exclusively on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, U.S. military strategists are quietly shifting gears, saying that large-scale counterinsurgency efforts cost too much and last too long.

The domestic economic crisis and the Obama administration's commitment to withdraw from Iraq and begin drawing down in Afghanistan next year are factors in the change. The biggest spur, however, is a growing recognition that large-scale counterinsurgency battles have high casualty rates for troops and civilians, eat up equipment that must be replaced and rarely end in clear victory or defeat.

In addition, military thinkers say such wars have put the U.S.'s technologically advanced ground forces on the defensive while less sophisticated insurgent forces are able to remain on the offensive.

Counterinsurgency "is a good way to get out of a situation gone bad," but it's not the best way to use combat forces, said Andrew Exum, a fellow with the Washington-based Center for a New American Security. "I think everyone realizes counterinsurgency is a losing proposition for U.S. combat troops. I can't imagine anyone would opt for this option."





Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/05/12/94058/pentagon-rethinking-value-of-major.html#ixzz0npXURiyu

[TwilightGardener]

1. I agree with this--counterinsurgency is not worth it in the long run.

[ShortnFiery]

2. Great! If we don't provide them with *battlefield disneylands* the may just turn

their killer drones against the US Citizenry? :scared: :(

These planes (drones) are already patrolling our southern border. How much longer before they use these vile entities over our cities?

[HereSince1628]

3. Yes, we should definitely do cheap wars that improve the image of the empire

These longlasting bitter pills aren't good for the image of the world's mightiest military. But, only tens of millions of us tried to tell the US not to do it, there obviously wasn't enough warning.

[Hardrada]

4. We've been saying this forever.

[Kolesar]

5. those are f**kers who lobbied for Bush and his wars

They were too blind to see that Bush was incompetent to run foreign policy or wars, but they voted for him anyway.

[MisterP]

6. the US isn't going to END attacking countries and trying to massacre resistances

and civilians "harboring" them; it's just gonna restrategize! that's the ticket! "do we get to win the war this time?" won't be seared into our generals' minds as they toss and turn in bed, thinking over Vietnam, Laos, Algeria, Cuba, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Iraq, Afghanistan, Madagascar, Ireland, Andorra, Long Island ...

[Mari333]

7. brutish thuggery doesnt work eh?? no shit, you idjits.

[Plucketeer]

8. If we conducted ourselves properly outside of our borders...

...we wouldn't have to have prolonged conflicts of ANY type! Our founding fathers would be hanging their heads in shame for what we've done with their grand experiment.

[autorank]

9. This is very positive k*r

That eliminates about all of our foreign adventures since they always involve insurgencies and our need to counter them. Keep thinking this through Pentagon, you're doing great!

[bvar22]

10. The last "counterinsurgency" war/occupation that the US "WON"..

..was the war against the Native Americans.

To WIN a "Counterinsurgency", you must be willing to exterminate (genocide) the native population, and occupy their homeland permanently.

[bemildred]

11. "Dead battles, like dead generals, hold the military mind in their dead grip."

-- Barbara M. Tuchman

A definite "No Shit, Sherlock!" award.

[EFerrari]

12. Tomorrow: Pentagon discovers gravity.

[daleo]

13. You can only invade Grenada so many times

So, maybe invade some uninhabited island for a few weeks every year (an arctic island one year, a coral atoll the next). Do some explosions, declare victory, then demand another trillion from Congress.

Everyone's happy (except the taxpayer).

[msongs]

14. US dumbass military learned this lesson in Vietnam and promptly forgot it nt

[eridani]

15. Presumably we file this under "NO SHIT, Sherlock"? n/t

[Solly Mack]

16. k/r

duh