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The Story of the Surge
A review of Bing West's latest book on the Iraq war, one which describes the "surge" and shift to a COIN strategy as a largely bottom up development. Sounds like an interesting read.
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One of the most important aspects of Bing West’s new book—“The Strongest Tribe: War, Politics and the Endgame in Iraq”—is his retelling of how the “surge” of American combat forces in Iraq actually came about. The popular imagination (and simplistic retellings by politicians and lazy journos) seems to have latched on to the idea that General Petraeus hatched the plan himself, and heroically dragged everyone else along with him on the road to victory.
Disregard academic critiques of the new COIN manual
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Doctrine is collaborative and basically an effort in consensus-building within an institution for practices that some members are already using (or rejecting). Academic writing for peer review is about delivering information to a guild-like community through prescribed forms and standards, mostly by individuals or very small groups. Not the same thing.
Military doctrinal writing that tries really be peer review will not be of much use to 18 year old recruits. Or their commanding officers. Or often, the civilian policy makers. The COIN manual paid attention to the substance of Anthropology, a novelty in itself, but not to Anthropology's weird, little, professional fetishes prized by bearded dudes who have cubicle offices on campus.
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