What did you learn about Afghanistan and Iraq?

CPT Joseph K Murdock — Tue, 28 Jun 2016 18:26:40 -0400

Clausewitz Trinity is a grand slam.

I will now endeavor to paint the picture of what happened. Carl Von Clausewitz developed his paradigm of war call the Trinity: Passion of the people, Rational approach of the government, and the Military Genius. Lets use this to define Iraq.

1. Passion of the people is hatred between the Sunnis, Shia, and the government. Currently ISIS occupy Sunni controlled cities as safe havens.
2. Rational approach of the government failed as it was corrupt and it discriminated against the Sunnis.
3. The genius of the military never was. It was fraught with corruption, poor leadership, fake soldier accounts to siphon money, and the general lack of understanding that equipment, vehicles, and weapons systems need maintenance.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 28 at 2016 6:31 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Jun 2016 18:31:38 -0400

From a military aspect or a cultural one?

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 28 at 2016 6:57 PM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Jun 2016 18:57:20 -0400

About Afghanistan: the culture is heterogeneous. Less of a country and more of a collection of local fiefdoms. I found that the very concept of "Afghanistan" was foreign to many who lived there. Particularly out in Kunar Province where I was, the citizenry had little, if any, national identity. The only thing they knew was that they did not like the people in the next village over but that they would steal their daughters for their sons.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 29 at 2016 1:46 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 29 Jun 2016 01:46:48 -0400

CPT Joseph K Murdock Here's a few that popped into my head. I'm suree I'll end up adding more.
• Iraq stinks. The smell of burning trash, tires, crap, oil pits, dead stuff, live stuff ... Cradle of civilization though right? Smelled like the baby took a dump in the cradle and noone ever cleaned it.
• Incoming rounds don't always whistle (I never heard one whistle)
• I really like baklava and chai
• Mud is the desert without rain is possible and it sucks ass.
• Gold is (or was) cheap
• A "Dear John" phone call sucks as bad or worse than a "Dear John" letter. Fortunately, others things happening to keep my mind focused.
• Iraqis were some of the worst shooters in the world.
• Iraqis have to be some of the BEST mechanics in the world.
• Gold color toilets are no more comfortable nor efficient than regular ones.
• That a people with a mathematic rich culture can’t stand in a line for sh**. (Wahid wahid mother f***ers!)
• When to be at the Green Zone for steak and lobster.
• When you think you have enough batteries; grab more.
• In the shittiest situations you can always find people who will rise to the heights of humanity.

Response by SGT David T. made Jun 29 at 2016 7:58 AM

SGT David T. — Wed, 29 Jun 2016 07:58:02 -0400

I learned not to go there lol.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 30 at 2016 1:22 AM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 30 Jun 2016 01:22:58 -0400

That neither of them were or are worth a pile of camel shit. Not one damn thing about those two ethnic peoples, their prehistoric cultures and mentality, nor their standing in the world was worth one drop of American blood. Not. One. Single. Drop.