"Actually, I see 'hearts and minds' as a tactical doctrine. To me, it means that's where we should aim first," said Craig. " Shoot them in the body or in the head, but just make sure you shoot them first."
Hearts and minds is not just a slogan, it is a key goal in counter-insurgency warfare. If the people turn against you, there is no possibility of exacting military victory.
The following story out of Iraq shows that to the current US military leadership, hearts and minds is reduced to "shoot them in the body or in the head."
Hearts and Minds - US style
By Scott Taylor in Tikrit, Iraq
Thursday 27 November 2003, 15:55 Makka Time, 12:55 GMT "We have two major factors effecting the ability for some of our troops to understand restraint," said Eddie Calis, the civilian security adviser at the US airbase at Kirkuk, in northern Iraq.
"One problem is that a lot of our soldiers are shit-scared and want to get out of here alive, no matter what that entails.
"The second and much less widespread issue is that of misplaced patriotism," said Calis, giving as an example one of the soldiers stationed at the Kirkuk airfield will soon be rotated back to America, and who feels that he has yet to fulfil his national duty.
"Every day he complains that he has not yet had the opportunity to kill an Iraqi, and do his bit for the war," explained Calis.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/84B9680B-55DF-4562-AFF3-093E94D3FBCB.htmBe a good German, support the troops!