Part 3 in this series … Unlike Iraq, we have had wise and eloquent warnings about our folly in Afghanistan. Such as this article, which I strongly recommend reading in full.
- COIN’s siren song, Pat Lang (Colonel, Special Forces, retired), Sic Semper Tyrannis, 11 July 2009
Excerpt
“Counterinsurgency” as a developed modern doctrine of warfare was created in the aftermath of World War II as a system of defense against “Wars of National Liberation” that erupted across the world as various peoples rose against European colonialism.
… Basically what is attempted in this doctrine is the construction of a society that is more attractive and viable than that promised by the insurgents.
… “Counterinsurgency” made some sense for the European colonial empires. They “owned” the places where they tried this method. They were fighting to retain what they saw as their property. Whatever “investments” they made in the colony seemed worthwhile because they would be retained in the empire.
… In Iraq, the US has gained nothing of economic value and is rapidly surrendering control of the governance of Iraq to a government that is not truly friendly. The outcome of last week’s oil service contract auction should be instructive to those who think the US (as opposed to the looters granted no-bid contracts to batten on US money) has gained anything of value in Iraq. And how much have we spent there to date? How high is the butcher’s bill as of today?
It is the same in Afghanistan. Fantasize all you like… There is nothing in Aghanistan that the US wants or needs other than the ability to disrupt Al-Qa’ida’s further plotting against our own soil.
Afterword
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