Short note here: Letting your army become overly skilled in asymmetric warfare may hurt it when a war becomes semi-conventional.
Early information from Israel points at the seemingly higher than expected loss of Israeli tanks may be due in part to crews becoming rusty in conventional warfare tactics. When tanks were hit by masses (many hundreds) of anti-tank missiles, the reservist crews forgot to use their smoke generation counter-measures to conceal their vehicles. The same is true of the Israeli warship struck by the Chinese built anti-ship missile. They forgot to turn on their anti-missile short-range defense systems.
The second case is beginning to appear to be one of underestimating the foe by the Israeli Navy. The first appears to be the lack of re-training soldiers from the anti-insurgency role they have been playing for years back into a classic conventional role last seen in 1973 (and to some extent 1982).
While the facts are still being investigated, and changes will come to the IDF, this situation begs the question of American troops. Are our soldiers being used in such a way in Afghanistan and Iraq that would dull the spear if it were needed in a war with a more conventional army like North Korea or China (in Taiwan)? Would our tank crews forget the basics of tank on tank fighting, or basic self-defense measures? Israel's tanks were stopped when hit with enough firepower (massed in numbers that are amazing). Our tanks have shown that they are also not invincible, but are mainly at risk from IED's not anti-tank missiles. For now that is...
People in the military and on the right often say that we need to learn from Israel with the inference that the IDF does not make mistakes. Here is an example in which we need to take heed:
1. Never assume an asymmetric threat won't hit conventionally.
2. Don't let your immediate problems dull you basic training.
3. Do not underestimate your foe. Ever.
Monday, September 04, 2006
Only A Geek Would Start a Blog with a FAQ!
How true, how true. But you know what? FAQ's are quick, concise, and to the point. What better way to start a blog off...
1. Who are you?
I am an American who loves his country, it's people and misses the social contracts that once held our many diverse peoples together in some sense of unity. I am a 30 something computer geek who loves shooting my guns, believes strongly in the progressive message of bettering the world, thinks that science is science, religion is religion, has been both a military nut and a pacifist at different times in my life, has a degree in religion but is not a religious nut, is a Jew but was born a Christian, and most importantly is a person seeking a return to some kind of middle ground that we can all once again live in without destroying each other.
2. Does that make you a bit schizophrenic, a bit of a flip flopper?
No, it makes me very experienced (personally) in the power of zealotry and impractical dreams. It allows me to know why it is that the most dangerous terrorist groups always seems to contain at least one "convert" to the cause. It let me understand both religious groups and secular ones. It lets me be a bridge. And I hope it gives me the chance to talk about a new direction for the middle of America: the passionate middle.
3. Passionate Middle? Isn't that an Oxymoron?
I do not think so. There is this old concept called social contract. The idea is simple: our society is based on what we all agree to do, put up with, and agree (nominally) to. This is what makes Americans who we are. The right calls this "the melting pot" (most of us learned the idea in school) and the left calls this tolerance (kind of a different concept that I will blog on later). What does this have to do with a passionate middle? Well, in the last decade we have lost our social contract and instead drawn into our own interest groups and made a grab for power: damn the contract. Evangelicals got the chance to get the Bible in the school and so violated the contract of separations of church and state that they are now both and at some level are losing not only their credibility, but their souls too. Liberals saw the chance to produce a truly diverse America that would be the exact opposite of the 50's hell of conformity, but now the melting pot no longer melts and diversity threatens to undue unity in ways they do not want to see. Basically the country is filled with warring intellectual militias that are breaking us apart. So what will bring us back home to a better America? The passionate middle. Their banner is sometimes "throw the bums out!" and is sometimes "can't we all just get along", but their point is basically that this is the UNITED States of America and not the Confederate Political Groups of Middle North America. And every day this group is growing.
4. But where do you stand?
To quote others, my flag flies left of center. But I have many, many gripes with lefties just as I do righties. I am progressive but practical. I think that we have to be able to disagree but eat a meal together. We are a family of sorts, and we have to be able to give and take if we are going to make it. In the end, I am a progressive who understands and agrees with many conservative messages. But if you want to really know what I think, read my blog.
5. Why "Blue Dot in A Red Field"?
For several reasons. First, I live in one of the reddest states in the nation, but in the bluest city in that state. In life I am also the blue dot in a red field: when I am at a shooting competition, when I am trying to talk with many religious people (Christian, Jewish, or Muslim), and especially when I am watching the current administration take our political traditions and institutions apart one power grab at a time. I also think that us blue dots stand the best chance to help our country.
6. Why?
Because the blue fields are unable to talk to the red dots that make up the red fields. They cannot understand them. Hell, they are too busy ridiculing them. There are a thousand reasons that the current Democratic party is lost and wandering, but one is that it does not understand middle America (both politically middle and physically middle). We living here do. We know that a contract that allows for things that both sides like and dislike, that both sides need and are willing to concede, that both sides can agree to disagree on is the way forward for us all. We know that these contracts are possible, otherwise we would live in California.
7. So we should all have dinner with a nutjob neighbor and the world would be a better place?
No, but turning down the volume in conversations would be a start. And instead talk to that nice conservative guy you know. Stick to what frustrates you in the whole of America now. Be willing to criticize your leaders as well as his. Know you may get nowhere, but see if you can get to his frustrations too. We blue dots are VERY aware of how frustrated the red fields are with the current red administration. From nation building, to growth of government, to incompetence, to surveillance, they are not happy. But so long as the "Masters of Volume" control the conversation, the red fields cannot speak openly. So long as any Democrat looks and talks like a "Godless Gun Grabbing Liberal" there is not conversation to have. So long as the "Masters of Volume" (MOV) control the words, we are all screwed.
8. Masters of Volume?
Yeah, the people who are paid to screw America by doing everything in their power to turn the volume up to 11. If there is any real fifth column in America, it is those who have made money and power splitting and dividing America through professional destruction of any social contract that might have survived the 80's and 90's. Cashing in on the language of "Jesus Freaks" and "Liberal Traitors" they bought the melting pot, melted it down and sold the scraps to buy personal jets and Viagra. These people come in Red and Blue depending on your own personal preference.
9. So are you a MOV?
I am trying not to be. It is easy to be one, and I may slip towards that now and then, but I am trying not to be. I hope others can follow.
10. I thought FAQ's are supposed to be concise?
Yeah. Good point. And this is as good a place to stop as any. So, thank you for reading, and let the blogging begin...
1. Who are you?
I am an American who loves his country, it's people and misses the social contracts that once held our many diverse peoples together in some sense of unity. I am a 30 something computer geek who loves shooting my guns, believes strongly in the progressive message of bettering the world, thinks that science is science, religion is religion, has been both a military nut and a pacifist at different times in my life, has a degree in religion but is not a religious nut, is a Jew but was born a Christian, and most importantly is a person seeking a return to some kind of middle ground that we can all once again live in without destroying each other.
2. Does that make you a bit schizophrenic, a bit of a flip flopper?
No, it makes me very experienced (personally) in the power of zealotry and impractical dreams. It allows me to know why it is that the most dangerous terrorist groups always seems to contain at least one "convert" to the cause. It let me understand both religious groups and secular ones. It lets me be a bridge. And I hope it gives me the chance to talk about a new direction for the middle of America: the passionate middle.
3. Passionate Middle? Isn't that an Oxymoron?
I do not think so. There is this old concept called social contract. The idea is simple: our society is based on what we all agree to do, put up with, and agree (nominally) to. This is what makes Americans who we are. The right calls this "the melting pot" (most of us learned the idea in school) and the left calls this tolerance (kind of a different concept that I will blog on later). What does this have to do with a passionate middle? Well, in the last decade we have lost our social contract and instead drawn into our own interest groups and made a grab for power: damn the contract. Evangelicals got the chance to get the Bible in the school and so violated the contract of separations of church and state that they are now both and at some level are losing not only their credibility, but their souls too. Liberals saw the chance to produce a truly diverse America that would be the exact opposite of the 50's hell of conformity, but now the melting pot no longer melts and diversity threatens to undue unity in ways they do not want to see. Basically the country is filled with warring intellectual militias that are breaking us apart. So what will bring us back home to a better America? The passionate middle. Their banner is sometimes "throw the bums out!" and is sometimes "can't we all just get along", but their point is basically that this is the UNITED States of America and not the Confederate Political Groups of Middle North America. And every day this group is growing.
4. But where do you stand?
To quote others, my flag flies left of center. But I have many, many gripes with lefties just as I do righties. I am progressive but practical. I think that we have to be able to disagree but eat a meal together. We are a family of sorts, and we have to be able to give and take if we are going to make it. In the end, I am a progressive who understands and agrees with many conservative messages. But if you want to really know what I think, read my blog.
5. Why "Blue Dot in A Red Field"?
For several reasons. First, I live in one of the reddest states in the nation, but in the bluest city in that state. In life I am also the blue dot in a red field: when I am at a shooting competition, when I am trying to talk with many religious people (Christian, Jewish, or Muslim), and especially when I am watching the current administration take our political traditions and institutions apart one power grab at a time. I also think that us blue dots stand the best chance to help our country.
6. Why?
Because the blue fields are unable to talk to the red dots that make up the red fields. They cannot understand them. Hell, they are too busy ridiculing them. There are a thousand reasons that the current Democratic party is lost and wandering, but one is that it does not understand middle America (both politically middle and physically middle). We living here do. We know that a contract that allows for things that both sides like and dislike, that both sides need and are willing to concede, that both sides can agree to disagree on is the way forward for us all. We know that these contracts are possible, otherwise we would live in California.
7. So we should all have dinner with a nutjob neighbor and the world would be a better place?
No, but turning down the volume in conversations would be a start. And instead talk to that nice conservative guy you know. Stick to what frustrates you in the whole of America now. Be willing to criticize your leaders as well as his. Know you may get nowhere, but see if you can get to his frustrations too. We blue dots are VERY aware of how frustrated the red fields are with the current red administration. From nation building, to growth of government, to incompetence, to surveillance, they are not happy. But so long as the "Masters of Volume" control the conversation, the red fields cannot speak openly. So long as any Democrat looks and talks like a "Godless Gun Grabbing Liberal" there is not conversation to have. So long as the "Masters of Volume" (MOV) control the words, we are all screwed.
8. Masters of Volume?
Yeah, the people who are paid to screw America by doing everything in their power to turn the volume up to 11. If there is any real fifth column in America, it is those who have made money and power splitting and dividing America through professional destruction of any social contract that might have survived the 80's and 90's. Cashing in on the language of "Jesus Freaks" and "Liberal Traitors" they bought the melting pot, melted it down and sold the scraps to buy personal jets and Viagra. These people come in Red and Blue depending on your own personal preference.
9. So are you a MOV?
I am trying not to be. It is easy to be one, and I may slip towards that now and then, but I am trying not to be. I hope others can follow.
10. I thought FAQ's are supposed to be concise?
Yeah. Good point. And this is as good a place to stop as any. So, thank you for reading, and let the blogging begin...
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