Originally posted by rpg1592:
I like to box cutter comment. It defines the situation perfectly. Sadly, we will not see a change in tactics until the academies and its teachers finally accept second generational warfare attitudes and beliefs are passe and are of little to no value in fourth generational warfare. Also, the US military-industrial complex is too rooted in times past to care about required change. Add Congressmen that have to bring home the bacon to their district only accerbates the situation. Taken in total, the three areas are spelling doom for our military and for the protection of America.
S/F Gordon
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RE:
http://www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,157648,00.htmlAfter returning from Vietnam in 1969 I became engaged with an Afghan foreign student who told me a story of the British in Afghanistan at the turn of the century. The British had just completed the first rail road and were about to inagurate with pomp and circumstance when all the Mullahs in Kabul came and laid down on the tracks to become martyrs in protest. The Commander didn't know what to do; Should he let the train run over the Mullahs and make them all martyrs or should he lose face and capitulate thereby losing the rail system. He was about to give the command for the train to leave when an Afghan interpreter Came and whispered in his ear. He told him to have his men go and urinate on the Mullahs on the tracks. Well, the Mullahs were willing to be martyrs but not willing to be made unclean and quickly got up disgusted and left. Maybe it's time we use more creative tactics instead of brute shock and awe force to achieve our goals.Maybe we could have told Bin Laden that if he ever tried another attack on us it would mean pigs being dropped on Mecca... his choice. We did nothing but increase his stature by our tactics. Ten dollars worth of box cutters cost us trillions. Our adversaries are playing chess while we're playing checkers.
