Thomas Friedman, in yesterday’s New York Times, lays out current Army counter-insurgency doctrine in about as clear terms as I’ve seen from the mainstream media (italics/bold mine):
The strategy that our new — and impressive — commander in Afghanistan, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, is pursuing calls for additional troops to create something that does not now exist there — a reasonably noncorrupt Afghan state that will serve its people and partner with America in keeping Afghanistan free of drug lords, warlords, the Taliban and Al Qaeda. His plan calls for clearing areas of Taliban control, holding those areas and then building effective local, district and provincial governments — along with a bigger army, real courts, police and public services. Because only with all that can we hold the support of the Afghan people and avoid a Taliban victory and a return of Al Qaeda that could threaten us. That is the theory.
Completely off-topic:
Gabe (and your beautiful wife and daughter):
I’m a newly commissioned officer in the TN Army National Guard, and I wanted to let you know that you – and your family – have been an inspiration to me and many of my comrades over the last several months.
As we approached the end of our long OCS journey, I started looking for information on BOLC II and infantry BOLC III, and as you know – resources are limited. When I found your blog, I read it from front to back, and then started checking in every few days, following you through BOLC III.
At one point, I sent the link to my whole class and cadre; I doubt I’m the only Tennesseean following you these days. I’ve also forwarded it to my soon-to-be wife, so she can read ahead in advance to see what I’ll be doing.
I just wanted to say thank you. I know I’m not alone. There are probably a lot of new officers or officers-to-be out there who have gained a lot from you and your blog and your family. I know that my better half is going to feel a lot better about the whole thing after seeing some of the things your wife wrote (and watching her firing the 240!).
I just wanted to say thank you. I’m reporting to Ft. Benning today for the start of BOLC II, and then I’ll be following right in your shoes on to BOLC III … but then I get a trip to Iraq instead of Ranger School. (For the record, I’d rather be me. Embrace the suck, buddy.)
Good luck in Ranger School, however bad it sucks. I hope you can manage to journal it. The link you provided to that other LT who blogged his whole RS experience was amazing, despite the bittersweet ending.
If I run into you, I owe you a beer. Take care of yourself.
Eric
Eric,
I am so glad that you have found our blog to be so helpful. Thank you for taking advantage of it. When we started this blog, one of my goals was to try to provide much-needed information to new lieutenants like ourselves. When I started searching for BOLC II/IBOLC, like you I was disappointed to find very little truly helpful information.
Thank you for passing our site onto your fellow Tennesseeans, and congratulations to you and your fiancee. Good luck and stay safe during your deployment; I plan on taking notes during Ranger school and producing at least a couple posts about it. I’ll be down at Benning 20-25 September for Sniper Employment Course, so hopefully you’re not out in the field and we can get together.
Thanks again.
Gabe