General Jim Moylan
The General talks about the poor political leadership regards the Afghanistan war
He argues we can still win but ends with this comment:
If and when we fail in Afghanistan, there will be plenty of blame to go around. In my view, statesmen across the world that led their troops into the fight, committed too few troops and while their troops fought like lions, they led like donkeys, it is they who deserve the lion’s share of the blame.
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Seems to me that this is a general concensus of opinion held by those in the ranks.
“and while their troops fought like lions, they led like donkeys”
Perhaps a poorly rembered quote.
“and while their troops fought like lions, they were led by donkeys”
There – fixed it for him.
Or just bad English. The ‘they’ in “they led like donkeys” refering to the troops’ political leaders.
The subject of the sentence is the statesman not the troops. Doesn’t your point read as the statesmen were led by donkeys?
Hence: “The ‘they’ in “they led like donkeys” refering to the troops’ political leaders.”
10 Years, Is a long time, will probably still need a presence in another 10. To stop the training camps. Probably trainers and search and destroy after 2014.
But all strategy relies on Pakistan and the Middle East.
Issues of civil service is real. Politics is fragile.
Drugs and drug lords remain.
Enemy has taken to trying for decapitation strikes, seems recruitment is down.
Not losing not winning is what the line and line control officers reckon.
Morale is good isn’t it? You guys would know better than me. No democracy wants to be in war.
S11 is a long time ago, Bali too.
This is the way of the world now – gesture politics. That is, what is the least harm a govt can endure whilst still appearing to be doing something.
In the Vietnam war all that was needed was to take the fight to Hanoi, by bombing the north we got them to the ‘peace’ talks although the agreement was crap.
They could win in Afghanistan by listening to the generals and giving them what they want and allowing them to fight the war the way they want.
Orders like this: “General, I want you to fix the problem in Afghanistan, tell me what you need and you will have it. Come back to me when the job is done.”
People without the know how engage people/groups who are emminently qualified to carry out a specific job and then proceed to tell the expert how it should be done. It happens with tradies, teachers, cops, lawyers, sports coaches and unfortunately with the armed forces. When the task is left incomplete or is deemed unsatisfactory as a result of that interference, the blame is heaped on the people/groups who should have been left to complete the task without said interference. Those in control have a fear of losing that control by delegating important issues to people/groups that are expert in the required field. If you toss in uncertainty in decision making and the fear of losing your seat at the next election, what hope do we have?