Comments on: Burying the Powell doctrine in Afghanistan http://blogs.reuters.com/afghanistan/2010/03/23/burying-the-powell-doctrine-in-afghanistan/ Lifting the veil on conflict, culture and politics Sat, 04 May 2013 12:41:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: scott.moreland http://blogs.reuters.com/afghanistan/2010/03/23/burying-the-powell-doctrine-in-afghanistan/comment-page-1/#comment-7565 scott.moreland Wed, 09 May 2012 15:35:40 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/afghanistan/?p=1176#comment-7565 If taken purely on their own, our post-911 Afghanistan and Iraq experiences would support the author's argument, especially when contrasted against our more limited support to insurgencies in during the Arab Spring (particularly Libya and possibly Syria) and our SOF support to the AU in Somalia, each of which are no LESS likely to produce similar outcomes. We don't seem to achieve any better results whether we occupy or leave a power vacuum in post-conflict "nation-building" scenarios. The reason for this is simple. The onus of nation-building necessarily must fall on a fledgling nation's constituency. Outside interests will invariably create artificial and unsustainable governments...at best neocolonial and co-dependent puppets and at worst the empowerment of really bad people. We are best off lending limited military support economic incentives, and access to global media when possible, and empowering newly-liberated populations in post-autocratic regimes to determine their own futures. The UN, despite its flaws and inefficiencies, is most appropriate institution to offer the nation-building piece (jurisprudence, rule of law, humanitarian assistance, economic/infrastructure development) in a civilian-international context that at least attempts an objective approach. American unilateral intervention in the near term will likely be limited by our domestic economic situation. Our voting constituency is simply not interested in investing our dwindling national treasure in expensive expeditionary quagmires. If taken purely on their own, our post-911 Afghanistan and Iraq experiences would support the author’s argument, especially when contrasted against our more limited support to insurgencies in during the Arab Spring (particularly Libya and possibly Syria) and our SOF support to the AU in Somalia, each of which are no LESS likely to produce similar outcomes. We don’t seem to achieve any better results whether we occupy or leave a power vacuum in post-conflict “nation-building” scenarios. The reason for this is simple. The onus of nation-building necessarily must fall on a fledgling nation’s constituency. Outside interests will invariably create artificial and unsustainable governments…at best neocolonial and co-dependent puppets and at worst the empowerment of really bad people. We are best off lending limited military support economic incentives, and access to global media when possible, and empowering newly-liberated populations in post-autocratic regimes to determine their own futures. The UN, despite its flaws and inefficiencies, is most appropriate institution to offer the nation-building piece (jurisprudence, rule of law, humanitarian assistance, economic/infrastructure development) in a civilian-international context that at least attempts an objective approach.
American unilateral intervention in the near term will likely be limited by our domestic economic situation. Our voting constituency is simply not interested in investing our dwindling national treasure in expensive expeditionary quagmires.

]]> By: rex minor http://blogs.reuters.com/afghanistan/2010/03/23/burying-the-powell-doctrine-in-afghanistan/comment-page-1/#comment-1176 rex minor Sat, 27 Mar 2010 09:33:50 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/afghanistan/?p=1176#comment-1176 Colin doctrine died in UNO, when the first black chief of the US army deliberately told a complete lie infront of the world audience. Let the US marine test their metal against the warriors of the Afghan valleys and demonstrate to the world that they are superior to other invaders. The overwhelming force or the guerilla war tactics, the Pashtoons have demonstrated their skill against many foes including Brits and the Russians. Colin doctrine died in UNO, when the first black chief of the US army deliberately told a complete lie infront of the world audience. Let the US marine test their metal against the warriors of the Afghan valleys and demonstrate to the world that they are superior to other invaders. The overwhelming force or the guerilla war tactics, the Pashtoons have demonstrated their skill against many foes including Brits and the Russians.

]]> By: KRM http://blogs.reuters.com/afghanistan/2010/03/23/burying-the-powell-doctrine-in-afghanistan/comment-page-1/#comment-1156 KRM Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:44:45 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/afghanistan/?p=1176#comment-1156 American think-tanks, doctrines and media-obsessed pundits were all immensely prominent, especially after September 11th, 2001. Since then, they have wreaked havoc in many countries, causing immense destruction and rifts that will last generations. The conclusion that America will need to settle for on-going conflict as a way of life is the consequence of the folly of Iraq and the hubris of Afghanistan (known by many countries over the past few centuries). Can Reuters please think twice before publishing this prattle? You're one of the last bastions of journalism. Please take that responsibility seriously. American think-tanks, doctrines and media-obsessed pundits were all immensely prominent, especially after September 11th, 2001. Since then, they have wreaked havoc in many countries, causing immense destruction and rifts that will last generations.

The conclusion that America will need to settle for on-going conflict as a way of life is the consequence of the folly of Iraq and the hubris of Afghanistan (known by many countries over the past few centuries).

Can Reuters please think twice before publishing this prattle? You’re one of the last bastions of journalism. Please take that responsibility seriously.

]]> By: Abendego http://blogs.reuters.com/afghanistan/2010/03/23/burying-the-powell-doctrine-in-afghanistan/comment-page-1/#comment-1155 Abendego Wed, 24 Mar 2010 13:12:08 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/afghanistan/?p=1176#comment-1155 The benefits of military intervention appear to be temporary and not substantial. The benefits of military intervention appear to be temporary and not substantial.

]]> By: dzoo http://blogs.reuters.com/afghanistan/2010/03/23/burying-the-powell-doctrine-in-afghanistan/comment-page-1/#comment-1153 dzoo Wed, 24 Mar 2010 12:43:42 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/afghanistan/?p=1176#comment-1153 Dangerous, cowardly idea in general. This is the same sort of argument that had us doing "air strike warfare" in the 90's to little or no lasting effect. If you aren't committed, break out the diplomacy. Btw, I was USMC infantry, I don't hesitate for force on force. But don't do it half-assed. No surprise though, after the new Admiral of the Navy announced that the USN needed to stop demanding the best equipment in the world, and just make do with cheaper stuff. Just gives you a warm an' fuzzy. Dangerous, cowardly idea in general. This is the same sort of argument that had us doing “air strike warfare” in the 90′s to little or no lasting effect. If you aren’t committed, break out the diplomacy.
Btw, I was USMC infantry, I don’t hesitate for force on force. But don’t do it half-assed.
No surprise though, after the new Admiral of the Navy announced that the USN needed to stop demanding the best equipment in the world, and just make do with cheaper stuff.

Just gives you a warm an’ fuzzy.

]]> By: The Bell http://blogs.reuters.com/afghanistan/2010/03/23/burying-the-powell-doctrine-in-afghanistan/comment-page-1/#comment-1150 The Bell Wed, 24 Mar 2010 01:55:57 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/afghanistan/?p=1176#comment-1150 The American Armed Forces need to pay more than lip-service to reconciling the fantasy that they have the means to settle conflict anywhere with surgical precision on the one hand, with - on the other - the harsh reality that every unfortunate place they show up these days is left devastated and irredeemably destabilized in their aftermath. Doctrine or no - given none of the latter, with or without the former, they'd be a lot less unwelcome everywhere. Even at home. The American Armed Forces need to pay more than lip-service to reconciling the fantasy that they have the means to settle conflict anywhere with surgical precision on the one hand, with – on the other – the harsh reality that every unfortunate place they show up these days is left devastated and irredeemably destabilized in their aftermath.

Doctrine or no – given none of the latter, with or without the former, they’d be a lot less unwelcome everywhere. Even at home.

]]> By: silva http://blogs.reuters.com/afghanistan/2010/03/23/burying-the-powell-doctrine-in-afghanistan/comment-page-1/#comment-1148 silva Tue, 23 Mar 2010 17:17:18 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/afghanistan/?p=1176#comment-1148 It's done. USA is now one of the two big rogue states . The other one is Israel. What a trouble makers you are turning on. It’s done. USA is now one of the two big rogue states . The other one is Israel. What a trouble makers you are turning on.

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