Why Conventional Troops Should Not Fight Unconventional Wars (Part 1)

As of September 2008, your average conventional troop is 22 years old with a high school education. How many 22 years olds are expected to be diplomats, economists, cultural experts, and providers of security?

Prior to the acknowledgment of an insurgency in Iraq and the need for a new strategy, COIN rested in the capable hands of unconventional troops. For a look at a successful COIN campaign, visit Joint Special Operations Task Force - Philippines blog here. For a look at an unsuccessful one, google "Iraq".

You can read about forcing a square peg into a round hole in The New Republic article, "Course Correction". This serves as a prime example illustrating that theory and practice are two very different things.

My favorite quote from the article:

"We’re not trained to do governance and development," one young officer said. Another chimed in: "Shouldn’t the State Department and others be doing this? This isn’t our job."