COIN?

Is the Selection of General Mattis a Signal for Us to Expect a Continuation of COIN Philosophy? by JOHN BERNARD

http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/publications/detail/is-the-selection-of-general-mattis-a-signal-for-us-to-expect-a-continuation-of-coin-philosophy#ixzz4SNfbBa92

Excerpt: I will not apologize for applauding the selection of a Marine Corps General to the highest influential position for the Military especially given Mattis's demonstrated love for Marines, and the Corps. At the same time, I reserve the right to criticize what I believe to be the single most destructive decision made in the past 15 years of war; the decision to shift from a Hunt and Kill strategy to the historically failed, Counter Insurgency Operation (COIN). This move from the violent - and effective, hunt and kill strategy to COIN really made national headlines following the second Battle of Fallujah. The Media and certain Political types were quick to credit General Petraeus's institution of COIN strictures in the years that followed, for pacifying Al Anbar Province but the truth is, it was most certainly the surge of US uniforms that forced the Insurgents to displace. It is astonishing that Military Leaders, including Mattis and Petraeus would so willingly adopt a strategy that history teaches us, has not been successful in its 76 years as a formal battlefield doctrine. It has failed to produce the intended result in every single application while simultaneously producing a grotesque and vaulted pile of body bags filled with the lifeless bodies of America's Best, who were tricked into believing that America's civilian government and her upper echelon military staff actually cared about a successful, and victorious conclusion to the wars that ended their lives. (John is a retired Marine whose son, also a Marine, wa KIA in I believe Afghanistan. Semper Fidelis. ~Bob)