New Army Handbook Teaches Afghanistan Lessons

[laststeamtrain]

Source: NYT

August 13, 2009
New Army Handbook Teaches Afghanistan Lessons
By THOM SHANKER

WASHINGTON — More than a year has passed since an Afghan police commander turned on coalition forces and helped insurgents carry out a surprise attack that killed nine Americans, wounded more than 30 United States and Afghan troops and nearly resulted in the loss of an allied outpost in one of the deadliest engagements of the war.

Within days of the attack, Army historians and tactical analysts arrived in eastern Afghanistan to review the debacle near Wanat, interviewing soldiers who survived the intense battle, in which outnumbered Americans exchanged gunfire for more than four hours with insurgents, often at distances closer than 50 feet.

Now, that effort to harvest lessons from the firefight of July 13, 2008, has contributed to a new battlefield manual that will be delivered over coming days to Army units joining the fight in Afghanistan with the troop increase ordered by President Obama.

The handbook, “Small-Unit Operations in Afghanistan,” strikes a tone of respect for the Taliban and other insurgent groups, which are acknowledged to be extremely experienced fighters; even more, American soldiers are warned that the insurgents rapidly adapt to shifts in tactics.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/13/world/asia/13military.html?hp

[bemildred]

1. Well, don't understaff primitive forward firebases is a good lesson to keep in mind.

I want to say that I have nothing but respect for the training people at Leavenworth, whatever they call them these days.

However, better tactics are limited in their ability to compensate for incoherent strategy and war goals that are largely based on domestic political considerations.

[izquierdista]

2. Lesson #1

Don't go there.

Lesson #2: When in doubt, see lesson #1.

[saigon68]

3. Another Clusterfuck

An "Undermanned Outpost" Hmmm

I've seen this before.