William S. Lind

Retired Air Force Colonel Chet Richards has published another short, good book: If We Keep It: A National Security Manifesto for the Next Administration. The “it” in question is a republic, which we are unlikely to keep since republics require a virtuous citizenry. But suggesting a rational, prudent defense policy for the next administration is … Continue reading “The Best Counterinsurgency: Unentangle”

As we observe the slow and increasingly certain disintegration of Pakistan, we should force ourselves to confront an uncomfortable fact: events in Pakistan are to a large degree side effects of our war in Afghanistan. The Jan. 12 Washington Times headline was "Pentagon Spies al-Qaeda in Pakistan," as if this were somehow news. It quotes … Continue reading “Side Effects of Our War in Afghanistan”

A piece in the December 27, 2007 Cleveland Plain Dealer, "Vote on fate of Kirkuk postponed," by Tina Susman and Asso Ahmed of the L.A. Times, reported that "Kurdish lawmakers agreed Wednesday to a six-month delay in a referendum on whether the oil-rich city of Kirkuk should join the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan or remain … Continue reading “Kicking the Can Down the Road”

One reason parts of Iraq have quieted down, at least for a while, has received widespread attention: the Sunni split from al-Qaeda. Al-Qaeda’s own tactics alienated its base, which is usually a fatal political mistake, and for once we were wise enough not to get in the way of an enemy who was making a … Continue reading “In the Fox’s Lair”

Major General John Kelly is one of the Marine Corps’ most thoughtful and most able leaders. Many who hope to see the Marine Corps’ doctrine of Maneuver Warfare someday become real instead of just words on paper pray he has a bright future. When, as a major, he was commander of Infantry Officers’ Course at … Continue reading “No, the US Is Not Winning in Anbar”

As good news continues to flow from the "surge" – some of it true, some of it false and all of it spun – it is easy to forget the bottom line. The bottom line is whether or not we are beginning to see the re-emergence of a state in Iraq. Three recent news stories … Continue reading “Truth-Tellers”

September approaches, and with it the supposed watershed in the Iraq war that Gen. David Petraeus’ report to Congress will represent. In reality, the report will make little difference in what the Democratically controlled Congress does, because it has already decided what it will do, namely pretend to try to end the war while actually … Continue reading “The Petraeus Report:
More Kabuki?”

The “surge” in Iraq continues to generate good news, at least in the American press. Today’s Cleveland Plain Dealer includes a typical story, in this case by Robert Burns of the Associated Press: "The new U.S. military strategy in Iraq, unveiled six months ago to little acclaim, is working… "The U.S. military, partnering in many … Continue reading “One Step Forward, Two Steps Back”