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He Surged Before Surge Was Cool

2005, dude.  That’s when Georgia Nat’l Guard* Cav Troop CO John Alderman surged. 

Here’s how it worked: Offensive operations made life safer; the civilian government and the Iraqi Army had time to get established; and only then were old grievances reconciled so cooperation became the norm. I personally saw this work and am proud to have helped it happen.

The opposite strategy does not work. For much of the latter half of our tour, we had the comparatively easy task of escorting convoys between major logistics hubs. The overall U.S. strategy at this point was defensive in nature. The result: We could literally set our watches to attacks each night in very specific stretches of certain roads. The strategy was not producing security, and it was not limiting the insurgents’ ability to fight.

…

Understand this about insurgencies: They are meant to force political change. Any military actions are secondary and a means to that end. You are the true targets of the attacks on our forces overseas. You are in the crosshairs just beyond the soldiers on patrol in Iraq. The attacks are meant to erode your political will, so you will force our leaders to order soldiers home before they can complete their mission. You must consider that you, personally, have a part in this war whether you like it or not.

But you will want to read the whole thing, in all its clarity. h/t reader Halter.

* Betcha my friend Wolford trained him. That’s where Wolford was in 2004-05. GNG, training fine young officers like this one.

Welcome Punditeers, etal.  Such a beautiful fall morning. Come on in. We’re mulling the wheels of justice. Think you could stand in that thin saffron line? Some things do get lost in translation: truth, accuracy.   Exhibit A, this Dhimmbat. Uh Oh. Sometimes I feel like I spend my days in a state of active astonishment. At things like, for example, the Mission of A’Jad. Hey, look what’s headed straight for the cutting room floor!

Topics: Iraq, military

  Posted by Jules Crittenden at 11:04 pm on Wednesday, September 26, 2007

One Response to “He Surged Before Surge Was Cool”

1. saltydog Says:
   September 27th, 2007 at 2:07 am

   Thank you for the link, Jules. This young man must be another of those poor souls who just couldn’t make it in school.

   My favorite sentence: “You must consider that you, personally, have a part in this war whether you like it or not.

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