After Action Report—General Barry R McCaffrey USA (Ret)
VISIT IRAQ AND KUWAIT 9-16 March 2007
Read the entire report here: iraqslogger.com
EXCERPT: "Although we have arrested 120,000 insurgents (hold 27,000) and killed some huge number of enemy combatants (perhaps 20,000+) --- the armed insurgents, militias, and Al Qaeda in Iraq without fail apparently re-generate both leadership cadres and foot soldiers. Their sophistication, numbers, and lethality go up--- not down--- as they incur these staggering battle losses."
In his comments above, General McCaffrey has described the phenomenal regeneration capabilities and the unstoppable power of a classic Starfish organization .
See the recently published book, The Starfish and The Spider by Brafman and Beckstrom
EXCERPT: "8th: The US Tier One special operations capability is simply magic. They are deadly in getting their target—with normally zero collateral damage—and with minimal friendly losses or injuries. Some of these assault elements have done 200-300 takedown operations at platoon level. The comprehensive intelligence system is phenomenal. We need to re-think how we view these forces. They are a national strategic system akin to a B1 bomber. We need to understand that the required investment level in the creation of these forces demands substantial dedicated UAV systems, intelligence, and communications resources. These special operations formations cannot by themselves win the nation’s wars. However, with them we have a tool of enormous and decisive strategic significance which has crucial importance in the global war on terrorists."
A glimmer of hope for America? Finally, a senior, conventional, (albeit retired) US Army General begins to understand the effective and distinctly unconventional war-fighting capabilities of US Army Special Forces (SF) and the strategic importance of Special Forces to our nation's defense.
It sounds like the General got briefed by the Direct Action side of the SF house. To round out his knowledge, General McCaffrey should consider spending some time with ODAs from several different Special Forces Groups. There he will learn that ODAs have the combat-proven capability to effectively continue this kind of fight long-term without the need for huge numbers of conventional US forces in the forward battle areas.
I agree with General McCaffrey's assessment - "the armed insurgents, militias, and Al Qaeda in Iraq without fail apparently re-generate both leadership cadres and foot soldiers. Their sophistication, numbers, and lethality go up--- not down--- as they incur these staggering battle losses."
Now that he has laid bare the fact that our military tactics are increasing our enemies strength rather than getting the desired result of reducing their number, is it not time to completely reassess what we are doing?
For over four years, we have applied the strongest dose of pure military firepower the US Armed Forces can muster with the following result, "Their sophistication, numbers, and lethality go up--- not down---"
If we keep on doing what we are doing, we will keep on getting what we are getting. If we don't like what we are getting, it is time to change what we are doing.
Withdrawal is not an option. Unlike the Viet Cong, Al Qaeda will follow us home. We need a sea change in our strategy and tactics. Unfortunately Gates and Petreaus did not bring that change. If you wish to know just how well the Gates/Petreaus conventional solution is working, watch the news. They don't seem to see our enemy is like a balloon. Using conventional forces to squeeze one end of the balloon merely increases the size of the other end of the balloon. Petreaus' troop surge does not provide sufficient forces to squeeze the entire balloon simultaneously and we don't have any more to give him.
This is an unconventional war, yet our trained and highly experienced unconventional war planners continue to be deliberately and systematically shut out of the planning process at our highest military and civilian government levels. That has been and continues to be an error of the highest magnitude.
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