Blog Posts

No, not COIN as in Counterinsurgency, though we do that too.  Coin as in challenge

coin -- you know, those little things the Army has been flinging around for many years and the Marine Corps eventually glommed onto as well, and now they're everywhere.  Well, they're finally here now, too.

For your donation of $50, we'll send

you a freshly minted SWJ Challenge Coin as a thank you gift.  Wield it with the vigor and flair appropriate to its magnificence.  For those interested in such details, these are 1 3/4" coins, the perfect size, not too tiny and not too big. Just like most wars.

Small Wars Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Contributions are tax deductible for U.S. taxpayers.

For

multiple coins,

contact us.

If you don't want a coin as a premium, you can still:

The front image is called Tracking Bin Laden and was painted by U.S. Army Center of Military History, Museum Division's staff artist Sergeant First Class Elzie Ray Golden, U.S. Army. The back image is called After the Battle and was painted by Michael R. Crook; Tan Hep, Vietnam, 1967. Both paintings are part of the U.S. Army art collection.

More:

Half Brother of Afghan President Is Killed in Kandahar - NYT

Ahmed Wali Karzai, Brother of President, Killed by Trusted Guard - WP

Afghan President's Brother, Ahmad Wali Karzai, Killed - BBC

Brother of Afghan President Karzai Killed by Bodyguard - G&M

Karzai's Brother Slain by Guard - SMH

Afghan President's Half Brother Killed in South - AP

Afghan Assassination - Time

'Big Headache for NATO' - DT

'Dangerous Power Vacuum in South' - AP

'Huge Propaganda Boost for Taliban' - DT

Who Killed Ahmed Wali Karzai? - FP

A Gangster's Death in Kandahar - DR

Why Ahmed Wali Karzai Was a Target - DB

Assassination of Ahmed Wali Karzai: Careful What You Wish For - Time

Killing of Ahmed Karzai a Setback for US. Mission - WP

Ahmed Wali Karzai: Reactions and Analysis - WP

Factbox: Reaction to Death of Afghan President's Brother - Reuters

Update: Command Post Episode Two: "Is Counter-Insurgency Dead?" may be of interest to our community.

Update 2: Time Partners with CNAS, But is it Good for Journalism? By Allen McDuffee at The Washington Post's ThinkTanked blog.

Understanding War in Afghanistan.

This video, and the footage contained in it, is courtesy of Doc Brit Jacobs. Doc was 3rd Platoon's medic, and was able to have his camera out for much of the fighting. Cougar Company was tasked with seizing and clearing the town of Sarwobay, Afghanistan. 10 km from the Pakistan border, and a known Taliban stronghold. Cougar company air assaulted into the town, and immediately made contact with the enemy. The soldiers of Cougar company, with less than 50 infantrymen on the ground, were surrounded by 150 hardened Taliban fighters. Strong Eagle III was originally planned to take only 3 days...it turned into a 9 day battle against the enemy and the terrain. In the end, we lost 6 brothers within Task Force NO SLACK. 4 of our fallen were Cougars. We will never forget SSG Frank Adamski, SSG Bryan Burgess, SPC Dustin Feldhaus, and PFC Jeremy Faulkner. Thanks to Doc Jacobs for helping us tell our story.

Over the past couple of years, SWJ authors have been on the forefront of both design thinking and the situation in Mexico. Recently, Ben Zweibelson attempted to merge the two in Cartel Next: How Army Design Methodology Offers Holistic and Dissimilar Approaches to the Mexican Drug Problem. While Design, as a compliment to good planning, provides decision makers with a description of the current situation. In and of itself, it does not provide a solution.

What is it?

The U.S. Army Combined Arms Center (CAC) at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, recently activated the Army IW Fusion Cell (AIWFC) to assess, integrate, coordinate, and synchronize irregular warfare (IW) activities, initiatives, and capabilities across the U.S. Army and joint services. The AIWFC establishes a repository of key IW functional expertise under one roof and from which important actions are coordinated and implemented, particularly those IW actions that have DOTMLPF (doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leader development, personnel, and facilities) implications.

What has the Army done?

Enduring Army requirements from Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom showed the need for a permanent and integrated Irregular Warfare capability. CAC constructed the AIWFC this year by taking advantage of existing CAC IW expertise. It also called on other Army IW organizations to participate by establishing permanent liaison officers within the AIWFC thereby bringing IW expertise under one roof. These liaison officers provide functional IW expertise and can coordinate for "reachback" support and additional subject matter expertise with their organizational headquarters. The AIWFC has a small core "cell" that includes the director, and has a wider "in-house" staff from other organizations including:

• Army Asymmetric Warfare Group

• Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute

• U.S. Army Special Operations Command

• U.S. Army Counterinsurgency Center

• U.S. Army Security Force Assistance Proponent Office

• U.S. Army Center for Army Lessons Learned

What continued efforts does the Army have planned for the future?

The AIWFC will assist in the development of a coherent Army IW and Countering Irregular Threats strategy that accounts for building partner capacity, stability operations and the integration of unconventional warfare and counterterrorism. As part of the Mission Command Center of Excellence, the AIWFC will also assist and facilitate an enduring IW capability within the operational force both for current and future conflicts.

Why is this important to the Army?

IW constitutes one of the most prevalent forms of armed conflict. DoD Directive 3000.07 states: "It is DoD policy to recognize that irregular warfare is as strategically important as traditional warfare."

Army forces will vigorously train for conventional warfighting, but the requirement for the same forces to also understand the history, doctrine, and lessons of irregular warfare, and to practice it, is also important. With its complement of subject matter experts and practitioners with IW combat experience, the AIWFC brings fresh thinking and understanding to help Army forces educate, apply, and maintain IW knowledge and skills.

US Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of the NATO International Security Assistance Force, greets US Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta upon the secretary's arrival at Camp Eggers, Kabul, Afghanistan, July 9, 2011. DOD photo by US Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jacob N. Bailey.

Panetta Assures Karzai of Continued Commitment - AFPS

Panetta Believes US Close to Defeating al-Qaida - AFPS

New US Defense Chief Optimistic About Defeating al-Qaida - VOA

Panetta Says Defeat of Al Qaeda Is 'Within Reach' - NYT

Panetta: US 'Within Reach' of Defeating al-Qaeda - WP

Panetta Says US is 'Within Reach' of Defeating Al Qaeda - LAT

Al-Qaida Can Be Dismantled, Petraeus Says - AFPS

Space Shuttle Atlantis Lifts Off on Final Mission - VOA

Atlantis Launches on Last Shuttle Mission - WP

Atlantis Launches on Final Shuttle Mission - WSJ

Atlantis Lifts Off for Last Space Shuttle Mission - NYT

Obama Marks End of Era, Urges NASA to 'Break New Boundaries' - LAT

Space Shuttle Atlantis in Historic Final Lift-off - BBC

Weather Can't Keep Atlantis From its Final Adventure - VOA

Atlantis Roars into Space on Final Shuttle Mission - USAT

Shuttle Lifts Off for Last Time; `Light this Fire' - AP

Atlantis Launches on Historic Mission - NPR

Atlantis Launches for Final Time - USN&WR

Obama Hails Final Shuttle Flight, Eyes Mars Next - AFP

Crowds at the Cape Say Farewell to Atlantis - CBS

Emotions Run High at Last Shuttle Launch - Reuters video

Space Shuttle Pictures: NASA's Last Launch a Success - NG images

In Pictures: Final Shuttle Launch - BBC images

Shuttle's Final Ride, Flickers of the Spirit That Started It All - NYT

An End of an Era, or a Promising New Beginning? - LAT

Does US Have a Future in Space? - NG

Critics Have Doubts About NASA's Post-Shuttle Future - FOX

NASA Argues for 'Incredible Future' - BBC

As Shuttle Sails Through Space, Costs Are Tough to Pin Down - WSJ

Final Launch Marks End Of Intellectual Curiosity - SFC

NASA's Space Shuttle Program: A Look Back - PCM

Here is the latest edition of my column at Foreign Policy:

Topics include:

1) Rumsfeld wins the doctrine war

2) Taiwan needs missile engineers, not more F-16s

Rumsfeld wins the doctrine war

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates's retirement last week was accompanied by warm praise for his leadership style, his political acumen, and his judgment on critical policy issues. Gates left office widely regarded as one of the most effective defense secretaries since the office was created in 1947. This repute is in sharp contrast to that of his predecessor, Donald Rumsfeld, who left the Pentagon in 2006 under a cloud of scorn from Capitol Hill, the media, and inside the department he ran. Indeed, Gates was brought in specifically to reverse many of Rumsfeld's policies, which many believed were causing the United States to lose the war in Iraq. Gates restored collegial harmony and got the Pentagon through a dark period.

But Gates's departure, the wide-ranging overhaul of Barack Obama's national security team, and, most importantly, the president's decision to withdraw 33,000 soldiers from Afghanistan by next summer shows that the "Rumsfeld Doctrine" is now the accepted standard operating procedure for current and future policymakers. In the end, Rumsfeld won the Doctrine War.

Click below to read more ...

Yes, we made the top ten cut at Defence IQ. So did Danger Room, Abu Muqawama, Ares Blog, Kings of War, Michael Yon, War is Boring, Information Dissemination, The Best Defense, and RAF Airman's Blog. Congrats to all!

Here's the write-up on SWJ: "There is nothing particularly small about the topics covered by the Small Wars Journal Blog, which is aimed at engaging small wars practitioners. Run by numerous passionate and high profile contributors, Small Wars Journal Blog offers searing analysis on small wars topics from guerrilla warfare in Colombia to counterinsurgency operations in the Middle East. OK, so we admit that there was a bit of friction as to whether SWJ fell into 'blog' or 'journal' territory. Either way, both are a good read. So add them to your bookmarks."

CIVCAS (civilian casualties) are a huge problem for our side and for the enemy. The enemy causes far more CIVCAS but as outsiders our mistakes have a more toxic psychological effect. We won't have to wait long for the next report of the Taliban accidentally, or purposefully, blowing up civilians. It will probably happen today and tomorrow.

Our movements along the roads are predictable. In many cases nothing that can be done about that. The times may vary, but many of the routes are set by terrain or circumstance. Our people are very well trained to spot the bombs, and they are supremely outfitted with an impressive array of countermeasures and armor. There are few if any complaints from troops about their training or gear to avoid being blown up. Nobody in history has been more prepared for IEDs than our current combat troops. It's hard to blow them up, but the enemy is smart and continues to land hard punches with low expense. Everyone realizes there is only so much you can do, and then you are in war, and you take chances.

The enemy has difficulty hitting our vehicles with RCIEDs (radio-controlled IEDs) because our countermeasures are excellent. Low-tech inexpensive methods, such as land mines, can work against us on roads, but the problem with land mines is that they are dumb and they blow up the first thing that ticks them off, which likely will be civilian traffic. Enemy CIVCAS toxifies their operating environment and also misses their target.

And so the enemy has developed techniques to circumvent countermeasures and reduce CIVCAS. One of those techniques is "the snapper."

Read more about the snapper at Michael Yon's online magazine.

William J. Lynn III, the third-longest serving deputy secretary in the post-Cold War era, today announced his intention to step down as deputy secretary and return to private life. Lynn met with Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta late last week to discuss his plans. At Panetta's request, Lynn has agreed to remain until a successor is in place this fall.

"Bill Lynn has provided outstanding advice and counsel to this department and to the nation over the course of his long career," said Panetta. "I will rely on his experience and expertise during this transition period. His service will be greatly missed."

As the nation's 30th deputy secretary of defense, Lynn capped a nearly two-decade career of government service, during which he served as senior national security advisor to the late Sen. Edward Kennedy and a senior advisor to five secretaries of defense.

"It has been a rare privilege to serve in the Department of Defense during such a challenging time," said Lynn. "And it has been an honor to serve alongside an outstanding group of civilian and military members who every day demonstrate the value to this nation of their unwavering commitment and dedicated service."

During his tenure, Lynn helped the department navigate new strategic and fiscal realities, while supporting efforts in two wars. He helped create a new space policy, the department's first ever operational-energy strategy, and a landmark cyber strategy to protect the nation in the digital age, including the creation of the U.S. Cyber Command. He received widespread praise from America's men and women in uniform for expanding their use of social media to communicate with their families while deployed.

Lynn also oversaw the department's budget process, relations with the defense industry, and acquisition process, including the department's successful bid for a new refueling tanker.

Improving the care and treatment of wounded warriors was also a signature issue for Lynn, who implemented a new system of disability evaluation and oversaw the department's development of an integrated electronic health record.

Lynn will continue living in the Washington D.C., area but has not yet announced any future plans.

Building the Security Force That Won't Leave.