Family Security Matters: Diana West Interview

Credit: Family Security Matters

The main point of COIN is not to “win” military objectives, but to win the local population’s “hearts and minds.” This phrase may have unfortunate connotations of Vietnam, but it was nonetheless resurrected by Gen. David Petraeus, who as commander in Northern Iraq posted signs in every barracks asking US troops, “What Have You Done to Win Iraqi Hearts and Minds Today?”

In Afghanistan, this same doctrine has now turned the US military into a contestant vying for the All-Afghan Miss Popularity Award against the rival Taliban. The fact that after seven years in Afghanistan (eight, unofficially) we still haven’t won the crown should tell us something: that infidels can’t fight for the soul of an Islamic country and win it. Given that our leadership closes its eyes to all things Islamic, this notion doesn’t enter its collective mind. Instead, our leaders continue to believe that if only we do more – build more bridges, wells, schools, mosques, offer more payola, make more efforts to reduce civilian casualties to zero regardless of US cost, show more respect for Islamic and tribal culture -- we will “win.” Read more...