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2010-03-20 Afghanistan

COIN Is Always Having to Say You're Sorry

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Posted by Phaing Clusing8304 2010-03-20 16:04|| || Front Page|| [6 views ] Top

#1 I have to hope our military strategists are right, and I (we) are wrong - but I don't see how this portrayal of weakness will win. My fear is that they don't believe it either, but it is the only 'hope' left open to them.

Posted by Glenmore 2010-03-20 17:56|| 2010-03-20 17:56|| Front Page Top

#2 Don't be dismayed by short term results. Paying off the locals is a highly respected US military tradition to make long term friends--as long as you don't try to cut back on the bucks.

US units in Germany quietly payed out hundreds of millions of dollars over the course of many years, and still do so today. We actually pay a lot more than actual damages, and everybody knows it. But when the penny drops with the locals that to be our friend is *profitable*, they realize that what they thought was weakness is actually a demonstration of strength.

Call it "bribery inflation".

Posted by Anonymoose 2010-03-20 19:31|| 2010-03-20 19:31|| Front Page Top

#3 So, 'moose, sorta like the Dems are doing to the American electorate - giving them phony inflated bucks in return for their votes - and dependency.

Posted by Glenmore 2010-03-20 19:47|| 2010-03-20 19:47|| Front Page Top

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