Destroy the Village or Save It?

It would be a mistake to regard all U.S. conservatives as blindly following the Bush lead on the conduct of the conflict in Iraq. William S. Lind is a prominent conservative, Director of the Center for Cultural Conservatism at the Free Congress Foundation. He is also written for the military on "Fourth Generation Warfare" which specifically includes terrorism and counter-terrorism operations. Mr Lind has nothing but contempt for the neo-cons, calling them "fools, lightweights who can dismiss history and culture because they know nothing of history or culture." In his most recent post to his "Commentary" Lind states bluntly:

"U.S. forces have taken Falluja. Were we fighting a war in the Spanish Netherlands in the 17th century, and were Falluja the fortress city of Breda, the victory might mean something. Caught up as we actually are in a Fourth Generation war in Iraq, the event is almost meaningless. Most of the guerillas fled before we attacked, as guerillas are supposed to do (“When the enemy attacks, we retreat.”) U.S. forces are finding few dead resistance fighters; the 1,200 to 1,600 “body count” the American command is claiming will prove as phony as those in Vietnam. Meanwhile, the resistance is hitting us elsewhere. When U.S. forces leave Falluja, they will return there too. And the U.S. military has again destroyed the village in order to save it, giving its enemies a victory at the moral level. Will we ever learn?"

He then goes on to castigate the military and political leadership for their short-sightedness in using inappropriate tactics, instead advocating that the leadership read a book by a Marine tactician, "Tactics of the Crescent Moon" which advocates:

"Through better tactics, U.S. forces could take fewer casualties at close range without alienating the local population and without sacrificing their long-range capabilities. More powerful than firepower in this new kind of war will be the preservation of infrastructure. For it is the lack of social services that gives the foe his recruiting base. In the 21st century – as it was at the end of World War II – food, water, clinics and jobs will do infinitely more to secure the ultimate victory than bombs. Better small-unit technique costs nothing. It requires only a slower operational pace and the authority to experiment at the company or school level."

Thought provoking stuff, no matter where on the political spectrum you stand.