Posted in Adaptability, Boyd, Learning Organizations, Strategy, tagged Add new tag, Andy Bacevich, Bush's GWOT, Fourth Generation War, John Boyd and Strategy, William S. Lind on August 19, 2008| 10 Comments »
William S. Lind
August 18, 2008
What interests does the United States have at stake in the war between Russia and Georgia? Only one: that we remain out of it.
It almost passes belief to think that the Bush administration, bogged down in two wars and planning a third (with Iran), might move toward a confrontation with Russia. Yet that is what the White House appears to be doing. The August 11 Cleveland Plain Dealer reported that
President Bush called the violence unacceptable and Vice President Dick Cheney…said Russia’s actions in Georgia “must not go unanswered”…
Asked to explain Cheney’s comment, White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said, “It means it must not stand.”
That phrase should send cold chills down the back of every American. It precisely echoes President George H.W. Bush’s statement in response to Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, a statement that led to war. The White House cannot be unaware of the parallel, which means it is threatening war with Russia.
Posted in Decision Making, How to develop adaptability, Leadership, Learning Organizations, Strategy, tagged 4GW Seminar, 4th Generation Warfare, Add new tag, FMFM 1-1, FMFM1-3A, William S. Lind on August 16, 2008| Leave a Comment »
The second in the series of manuals and revisions from the 4GW Seminar at MCB Quantico, FMFM 1-3A, A Tactical Handbook for Counterinsurgency and Police Operations.
Here’s the preface:
Why another hip-pocket guide for counterinsurgency? What makes this different? This handbook is an offering from a group of Marine officers who feel that current doctrine is rapidly diverging from the intent of maneuver doctrine. Where other manuals aim to put current conflicts into the Maoist/Nationalist mold of the Twentieth century and aim to identify successful techniques, this book seeks to bring about a change in approach and thinking which is timeless. In an age where war is no longer monopolized by armies but is waged by non-governmental entities, ethnic groups, tribes, federal agencies and militias, we find it necessary to look to parallels and successful thought processes in the inter-agency arena. This we may apply to the current and future conflicts of a 4GW nature. Our hope is to complement the FMFM-1A and provide a useful springboard of thoughts and practices.
Available from the d-n-i.net 4GW Manuals page.
Posted in Adaptability, Leadership, tagged 4th Generation Warfare, Add new tag, Green revolution, National Security, Paul R. Ehrlich, Population bomb, Solutions to Overpopulation, Thomas Malthus on July 30, 2008| 15 Comments »
Most of the counter arguments I have gotten on Vandergriff’s 12 points have been with controlling overpopulation, “not doable,” “can’t happen,” are many of the same themes.
I love your counter arguments.
I still disagree with all of them.
Posted in Adaptability, Boyd, How to develop adaptability, Leadership, Learning Organizations, tagged adaptive leader methodology, Add new tag, Army, Army training, military education, professional education, Recruiting on July 16, 2008| 7 Comments »
I received great and numerous responses from my “Culture of Incompetence” posting. So, I will use it as an excuse to post the first announcement for my next book Military Recruiting: Finding and Preparing Future Soldiers (hit this link to get an overview). Military Recruiting: Finding and Preparing Soldiersis due out in late October. I told Praeger more than a year ago when they asked me to do it, that it was not going to be a book of statistics. If they wanted that, then go to the think tank RAND.
Posted in Adaptability, Boyd, Leadership, Learning Organizations, tagged 4th Generation Warfare, Adaptability, Add new tag, Innovation, William S. Lind on July 15, 2008| Leave a Comment »
I am proud to say that Bill Lind is a close friend of mine. This is one of his best columns, because it provides a great example of how one side in war gains a moral victory. John Boyd stated that the moral side of war is the strongest. In the following passage, Bill points out that the Colombian Army achieved a big moral victory over the FARC. This is the “how to,” which so many of us are looking for. Everyone spouts theory, the what or the why, but few provide actual examples of the how to. I am always looking for good (or bad) examples of how to apply adaptability and that of being a learning example to current conflicts as well as the business world. Here, Bill provides an answer.The other insight here is the importance of playing the role of the “behind the scenes strength” or the man behind the shadows. As Bill states, he is sure the U.S. had a hand in it, but downplayed its role. It is so important when trying to strengthen an alliance, be it in war or in business, that it appears that the home team won it on its own. That is tough in this day and age, when in our resume filled me first society, it is all about the individual’s advancement for the short-term, vice the advancement of the larger body over the long term.
Posted in Boyd, tagged Add new tag, Andy Bacevich, Chuck Spinney, Empire for Oil, John Boyd, Spreading Democracy through force on July 5, 2008| Leave a Comment »
by Chuck Spinney
A recent article by Thomas Powers in the New York Review of Books is a very good analysis of why Mr. Bush’s impulse to attack Iran before he leaves office is sheer madness. And at a deeper level, it well illustrates how perverted the militarization of US grand strategy has become at the dawn of the 21st Century.
Posted in Adaptability, Leadership, Learning Organizations, Uncategorized, tagged Add new tag, Can we solve our fiscal crisis?, Leaders as cheerleaders, Learning Organizations, Strength of Character, Today's politicans ignoring problems, Where are the leaders today on June 24, 2008| 2 Comments »
I continue to contend that we the people are guilty of our own forthcoming catastrophes not only looming on the horizon, but beginning to occur today.
We keep electing the same “cheerleaders.”
Posted in Adaptability, Boyd, How to develop adaptability, Leadership, Learning Organizations, tagged Add new tag, COL John Boyd, Ethics, Great teachers, Integrity, Strength of Character, Truth always hurts on June 23, 2008| 1 Comment »
We all think of Socrates when we ask what makes a great teacher.
A great teacher is a leader, a mentor, someone who encourages life-long learning. A teacher’s objective is to make their students better than they are. A teacher does not have an ego, but has pride in putting out the best students, but pride does not prevent the assimilation of better ideas, whatever it takes to give the best to their students.
The greatest compliment a teacher can receive is years later when hearing from a former student that says “thanks, you prepared me for…and you made a difference in my life.” A good teacher may not even get great evaluations during or right after the conclusion of their course. As a matter of fact, they may come under criticism, especially in today’s environment where answers are always given and immediate results are sought, from students because the teacher is forcing them to think and discover.
Dave Hubbard's short but well written and concise book is the blue print for our health care crisis. It is a must read for everyone aspiring to be a good leader as well as a responsible citizen.
Don Vandergriff 