Posted on Feb 7, 2016
MAJ Ken Landgren
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If COIN is so good why are we still fighting after invading Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003. For the fundamentals of COIN why are the governments considered illegitimate? Why are the militaries paper tigers? Why can we not prevent support and the base for insurgents? Why are their sympathies towards the Insurgencies. Why do the insurgents have safe havens? Why do the insurgents have free reign of the countryside and some urban terrain?
Edited 8 y ago
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LCDR Sales & Proposals Manager Gas Turbine Products
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The 500 lb gorilla in the room is the fact that these "governments" have mastered the ploy of gaining USA dollars, while preserving ties to their local power brokers. I don't think it was ever fully appreciated how much of the "support" the Afghan government gave us came on the heels of significant financial "promises" by the State Dept. Anyone who served as an adviser will tell you that the ANA/ANP were riddled with corruption and divided loyalties.
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MAJ Ken Landgren
MAJ Ken Landgren
8 y
Yes lets make militia leaders and warlords part of the government.
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LTC Self Employed
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Edited 8 y ago
Coin is ok and still needs to be taught at all levels... but we won't need coin for our next war..so let us go back to NTC to be ready to fight a country who takes us on with Soviet- style weapons and tactics. NTC and JRTC rotations again since we lost our edge (being stuck in Iraq and Afghanistan) for taking on MIBNs and regular militaries...again since Putin is preparing so we should too.
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LTC Self Employed
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8 y
its funny how some punk rocker chicks in Russia tell it like it is about who we should be preparing to fight next.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6eziXGirsQ
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MAJ Ken Landgren
MAJ Ken Landgren
8 y
War is not easy as we need to prepare for every threat.
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LTC John Shaw
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COIN is a toolset against counter insurgency. The US military and the military of another nation cannot make the government of another nation legitimate. Only that government can. As soon as political leadership sets the condition of success outside the military service control then we have no guarantee of victory.
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MAJ Ken Landgren
MAJ Ken Landgren
8 y
That is the paradox of governments, we coach them to be legitimate and they take it to a wrong direction.
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