Professional Soldiers ® - View Single Post - George Friedman / StartFor "The death of COIN"

Scimitar · 06-08-2012, 09:38

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqblx...ature=youtu.be

Following up the article recently posted on here, attached is a link to a video of George Friedman debating his opinion on the death of COIN with colleague, Robert Kaplan.

I'm far from an expert on warfare, but I read more then the common man on the current / recent conflicts, it feels like Friedman is getting some of the basic history wrong?

I would be highly interested in comments from those in the know.

Friedman’s basic premise is that we simply can’t afford the horrendous cost of the type of strategic missions that require a significant COIN effort, i.e. Vietnam, Iraq, A-stan.

It feels like they're mixing up FID with COIN and strategic with tactical?

Is it this basic argument that is driving the JSOC / SOCOM move away from the "softer" conflict skill sets and towards a greater focus on DA?

Scimitar

06-08-2012, 09:38	#1
Scimitar Area Commander Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Hobbiton Posts: 1,209	George Friedman / StartFor "The death of COIN" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqblx...ature=youtu.be Following up the article recently posted on here, attached is a link to a video of George Friedman debating his opinion on the death of COIN with colleague, Robert Kaplan. I'm far from an expert on warfare, but I read more then the common man on the current / recent conflicts, it feels like Friedman is getting some of the basic history wrong? I would be highly interested in comments from those in the know. Friedman’s basic premise is that we simply can’t afford the horrendous cost of the type of strategic missions that require a significant COIN effort, i.e. Vietnam, Iraq, A-stan. It feels like they're mixing up FID with COIN and strategic with tactical? Is it this basic argument that is driving the JSOC / SOCOM move away from the "softer" conflict skill sets and towards a greater focus on DA? Scimitar __________________ "Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men! Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for power equal to your tasks." -- Phillip Brooks "A man's reach should exceed his grasp" -- Robert Browning "Hooah! Pushing thru the shit til Daisies grow, Sir" -- Me "Malo mori quam foedari" "Death before Dishonour" -- Family Coat-of-Arms Maxim "Mārohirohi! Kia Kaha!" "Be strong! Drive-on!" -- Māori saying Last edited by Scimitar; 07-10-2012 at 14:28.
Scimitar is offline