Rightshelf

By Pejman Yousefzadeh Comments (0) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

The Counterinsurgency Field Manual is an impressive intellectual undertaking standing on its own. It addresses what was a serious shortcoming in American military doctrine and it does so with a great deal of detail and considered judgment in the formulation of its arguments concerning the doctrine of counterinsurgency. When one considers that the manual was prepared in a very short period of time so as to address the doctrinal shortcomings of the American military as swiftly as possible, the work is properly viewed as truly extraordinary.

To be sure, many of the observations found in the Field Manual strike readers as basic. But these basic definitions of terms must be presented in the manner that they are so as to ensure that everyone has an understanding of the premises from which the Field Manual begins before delving into more complicated doctrinal fare. The Field Manual is thorough and comprehensive in discussing issues like troop strength and deployment, the need to ensure that basic services are operational, the proper way to recruit and deploy translators, the best way to fight crime and lawlessness, and so on. It may well need further refining as time goes on but it will give future authors a great deal of valuable and rich material with which to work and to which they can add.

General David Petraeus was, of course, deeply involved in the creation of the Field Manual. His intelligence and erudition shows through the pages, justifying his reputation as the thinking person's warrior. Those who take the time to read the Field Manual will not only be impressed with the General's ability to formulate an argument. They will also be heartened by the fact that he has been chosen to put his arguments into practice. The results, thus far, give strong cause for hope.