Article

2012-08-05 Science & Technology

What the octopus can teach us about national security

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Posted by tipper 2012-08-05 07:02|| || Front Page|| [1 views ] Top

#1 Not sure about the marine or Octopus application. A bit too deep for my simple mind. However, after studying the IED chellenge for over a decade, it is now common knowledge that the majority of IED's are placed within 7k's (yes, commuting distance) of a village or town. Other "knowns" which have surfaced are the emplacer(s) likely reside in the village, are cognisant of ISAF traffic patterns, and advise locals on how to avoid the IED's. I will keep an open mind regarding the Octopus application.

Posted by Besoeker 2012-08-05 12:36|| 2012-08-05 12:36|| Front Page Top

#2 I have thought that a major strength of the US forces has always been their ability to act in small groups and independent of central control. And that everytime it has been tried (central control) it has failed dismally.

Of course there is the over-riding strategic plan under which all actions must take place but local flexibility has always been a strength, no?

Posted by AlanC 2012-08-05 13:27|| 2012-08-05 13:27|| Front Page Top

#3 The article describes an approach for addressing tactical problems with a flexible strategy, which is fine and actually what the U.S. forces are trained to do. The article doesn't stop there, however. It then advocates using the same approach to developing strategy, which is very foolish.

The problem is information. Being able to know what set of things and procedures constitute a "flexible capability" in a complex system is hard to determine. And because any useful "flexible capability" will be necessarily complex, how does a policy-maker know that the capability is really working as intended? Thus the need for planning and testing the tools and methods needed for developing strategic assets and methods.

Setting out a clear strategy is extremely hard work, and arguing that we should adopt a strategy of not thinking about strategy is analogous to unilateral disarmament -- i.e. foolish.

Posted by rammer 2012-08-05 18:04|| 2012-08-05 18:04|| Front Page Top

#4 Last I checked, calamari is still on the menu....

Posted by Pappy 2012-08-05 18:14|| 2012-08-05 18:14|| Front Page Top

#5 And besides all this decentralization, the octopus is a dam site easier on the eyes than 'Big Sis.'

Posted by USN, ret. 2012-08-05 22:13|| 2012-08-05 22:13|| Front Page Top

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