Friday, June 04, 2004
POLITICAL MICROMANAGEMENT OF MILITARY OPERATIONS IN IRAQ ?
Shades of Lyndon Johnson but I have just received an email from Iraq indicating that civilian political control over military operations now extends to the company or even the squad level. Allegedly units must receive the " go-ahead " from civilians above the theater commander to initiate " counterbattery operations" with many restrictions now being placed on counterinsurgency tactics. In one instance a unit took a 150 mortar shells before receiving long-delayed permission from far-away civilian appointees to return fire.
I have no confirmation of this beyond the past reliability of my correspondent but I'm wondering if anyone else has seen similar reports ? This would be to my mind, a terrible way to fight an insurgency and a disservice to American troops in Iraq. ¶ 10:40 AM
Shades of Lyndon Johnson but I have just received an email from Iraq indicating that civilian political control over military operations now extends to the company or even the squad level. Allegedly units must receive the " go-ahead " from civilians above the theater commander to initiate " counterbattery operations" with many restrictions now being placed on counterinsurgency tactics. In one instance a unit took a 150 mortar shells before receiving long-delayed permission from far-away civilian appointees to return fire.
I have no confirmation of this beyond the past reliability of my correspondent but I'm wondering if anyone else has seen similar reports ? This would be to my mind, a terrible way to fight an insurgency and a disservice to American troops in Iraq. ¶ 10:40 AM
