Jun
17
2009
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The Old Way of War |
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Written by JD Johannes
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Wednesday, 17 June 2009 |
Max Boot's article in today's Wall Street Journal makes a point I have made on many occasions--the need to keep a cadre of Officers and NCOs in combat theatres for years.
Boot even uses an example I used a few months ago, the British Soldier/Diplomat Robert Warburton .
The British in the 19th century faced the same challenges we face. Indeed, the only thing that has changed in Afghanistan is the technology of the weaponry.
In my pre-deployment reading there is a recurring theme to these works, one summed up best by Robert Warburton:
"...to deal with Afghans, officers must be employed who have knowledge of their languages, customs and ways."
That quote comes from Warburton's memoir "Eighteen Years in the Khyber."
Let the title of the book sink in for a moment. Eighteen Years stationed in and around the Khyber pass.
In the Victorian era, British officers may have spent an entire career abroad, but with generous grants of leave.
According to Boot, General Stanley McChrystal is moving to develop a small cadre of AfPak experts who will work in the same provinces for years rather than one deployment or in a shorter deployment rotation where they always return to the same general area.
I saw the utility of this during my time with the Marines in Al Anbar province Iraq. The Marines of Vengeance Platoon deployed to Fallujah in 2005, 2006 and 2007.
By the Summer of 2007 Sgt. Stephen Schlau, who was a PFC in 2005 when he first deployed, was an old hand in the region. There was no learning curve. The seven months deployed, five months home rotation was tough, but highly effective.
The strategy of creating a cadre of Officers and NCOs who work the same villages and provinces for years is sound. It has worked before and will work again.
The only question is does the administration have the patience to create a modern generation of Warburtons who may spend 18 years in the Khyber?
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