HR McMaster started out his career as an armor officer in the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment. His rise to fame started when he won a decisive victory against elements of 2 Iraqi Republican Guard divisions at the Battle of 73 Easting in 1991. The existence of a military structured to fight conventional wars does not preclude the discovery of exceptional commanders.

Now that the Army promotion board has started to look at different backgrounds, the tricky part is to ensure that the military doesn't fall into the same trap with different players. A military structured to fight colonial conflicts (the old term for low-intensity warfare) doesn't necessarily translate well to conventional warfare, as the British discovered at the start of the first world war.

There's the divide AtomicWalrus. Regular war tends to be loud, decisive, and relatively quick. Irregular warfare has no defining moments and it tends to be protracted with time measured in decades.

Decisions made today, aren't realized until many years later. Will we still be facing 4th generation warfare then?

Of course, regular warfare calls for big ticket items; irregular warfare calls for innovativeness - - what's easiest?

One thing the American public should demand. If they are going to pony-up their children to serve. They have a right to know their sons and daughters are serving under the best this country has to offer!

Regular warfare, irregular warfare, this tactic, that "rising star"... how about just a coherent strategy?

All the McMasters in the world won't help if they're innovatively doing the bidding of fools like your President.

What would lead you to believe, jkmurph, our current occupant in the oval office is my president? Never assume, it gets good people killed.

I'm more interested in those that are professionals - meaning people like Brigadier General select, McMaster.

Well, your two presidential candidates have bought into Bush's "Global War on Terror", so I say again, what good is a sharp Brigadier brilliantly executing a singularly stupid strategy?

He makes a good point, Tyrtaios. Officers like McMaster have performed exceedingly well and deserve their recognition, of course. I'd certainly never try to take anything away from their professionalism, bravery or intelligence. Or that of the BOTGs in general, for that matter. They have all adapted extremely well to a difficult situation in which they should never have found themselves.

I would go so far as to say that their efforts have granted a degree of legitimacy and dignity to a policy that had none—and deserved none—of its own. I'm not sure if I think that's a good thing or not. Any thoughts? You've had a lot more experience in these matters.

From their perspective, the mission was decided at a far higher paygrade and one does one's best in those situations. In the long run, though, I know that the most brilliant tactical mind cannot save a fatally flawed policy. All it can do is delay its passing. Perhaps the next war will be more worth fighting, and McMasters and others like him will do good work with the lessons they've learned. That's probably one of my last remaining shreds of youthful optimism speaking. :-)

Heave out and trice-up Mr. quillsinister. Oh, I'm aware that our reponder has a point, He was more interested in crawling under my skin then making the point. I can lay in ambush for days.

What is important here quillsinister, is this sends a positive message to our young company grade officers and career non-commissioned oficers that not only justice is served, but there will be a fine leader to learn under and follow.

Also, maybe some day our Brigadier General select, or someone like him, will be Chairman, JCS, and dig in hard on our next adventure, or at least demand it be thought out.

Lastly quill, Americans need to know we have good people in positions of leadership if they are going to be asked to offer-up their children to our Armed Forces.

Always stay optimistic, it's contagious. I'm not anymore, and it's tearing me apart for personal reasons. And remember the old adage: when you're up to your stern in alligators, don't forget your initial mission was to drain the swamp.

You know about swamps - don't you? I remember reading you spent some time around the Great Dismal.

Is Capt. "McD" treating you well? : - )

What are you, a demented old fool?

Why would I, or anyone, care about crawling under your skin? Just answer the bloody question.

Yeah, but nobody here listens so ijust gott go by the rules and hope the don't look at my utter freak peats thans for the therapy session ladies gentlemen.

I follow up with the locals , but they get freaky on me too and wan to go time trippin and start examinationations and lyings signs and name games and endless genealogies and omg .

Maybe I'll just play pitch in my next life and tell Hermes to keep his hand off the widow until the bidin is complete because kenny rogers is alway a wdeuces wild bidder.

c ya.

I'm terribly sorry jkmurph. I was at the club discussing Catiline's Conspiracy. What was the question again?

LOL

touche

Yeah, he's a good guy (for a brown shoe) and doesn't try to micromanage the SWO side of the house. I've worked for much worse. :-)

I would argue that Iraq cannot be called an unconventional war or irregualr warfare since it involves a conventional occupation of a conventional country.

I would argue Iraq is simply none of the above....

"Good people in positions of leadership". The Army is making the same mistake over and over.

The last set of leaders were good in their time, too. Time passes quickly and new situations and ways to wage war appear. These new leaders are as set in their ways as the old and when the next new asymmetrical, irregular, or unconventional war pops up they will use the methods of Iraq with the same old disastrous results.

Instead of promoting those who are great imitators, promote those who are great and creative thinkers and leaders. There aren't that many Petraeus's who can slip through the mind-set and emerge on the other side. Most of this current group are just good mimics.

Cynical? Yeah, but I spent a career in the military too and wasn't until I got some perspective.

Hello Adrasteia. You're being too judgemental and missing something important. This is for your eyes only. So take a quick look and destroy this post in the prescribed manner, as set forth in Fray Manual 1-21.13.

General's: Schwarskopf, Powell USA; Walt Boomer USMC; Vice Admiral Stan Arthur. All from the Vietnam era - irregular warfare. All helped train, lead, and allow young officers such as McMaster, Petraeus, etc. execute a magnificent conventional Desert Storm War.

Now we see these once younger officers, older and thinking outside the box in 4th generation warfare as the situation calls for.

They've shown flexability and adaptability. Don't discount the younger officers watching also. They'll fool you. They're smart and waiting for their chance too.

If nothing else, to select a twice passed over colonel for brigadier is astounding!

Damn, I feel motivated - - be motivated with me! : - )

Me? I'm just some ex-platoon sergeant they couldn't control, so they gave me a commission - - my problem was, I thought too much. : - |