{Rachel Maddow} Solving Afghanistan w/ David Kilcullen

[W120598]

Hind site is always 20/20...but I believe Kilcullen is driving the point that we should of comprehensively dealt with AFG first, while establishing some type of containment strategy for Iraq...because we rushed in without fully understanding the environment, in some ways we made the situation worse...thus recommending the By, With, and Through concept at all levels...but if all you know is the hammer...everything looks like a nail....

[W120598]

Some have dubbed our invasion into Iraq in 2003 as the rebirth of Al Qaeda...How do you beat a super power...you bleed it to bankrupcy...make it exhaust its people and resources with no end in site...Kilcullen's COIN strategy, with the dynamic leadership of Gen. Petreaus has helped us obtain the level of stability (still fragile) we experience within Iraq today...however some still consider us in the shaping phase in AFG after 9 years..

[W120598]

Attn Darling137 - Kilcullen is very familiar with the ideology of takfiris, specifically within Al Qaeda. Additionally he understands the dynamic of the Levant & region, and how entangled any occupier would become not know the intricacies (Arab vs. Persian, Sunni vs. Shia vs. Kurd, Tribal, etc.). We thought outside the box initially in Afghanistan...dealt AQ a significant blow...then looked to Iraq...

[michaelgj23]

I read "The Gamble," which was amazing, it plugged Kilkullen's "Accidental Guerilla." I can't wait to read it. You can also find his 28 Articles on line. It's a quick and interesting read.

[themgoodpancakes]

Everyone should read his book "The accidental guerilla"

I must say, I was extremely ignorant before I read it

[johnsmdm]

they called Kilcullen a Zionist shill and that hurt us....

[xhagast]

When I think about the mess the US is in I shudder. If the US tries, it gets hit hard. If it does NOT then the Taliban and Al Qaida use it as a stronghold.

I am a historian and the only example of successful crushing of insurgents as violent and crazy as these one goes back to the Romans. They killed 4/5 of the population and spared only those that begged for their lives. And had to do it again in a century or so.

[Nutrino2179]

Kilcullen is one of the world's foremost authorities on counter insurgencies, and I gained a lot of respect for his honesty last August when he described our invasion of Iraq in very succinct terms: "F**king Stupid."

[Darling137]

He predicted the outcome partially because he's an insurgency expert and he and his brethren understood the law of unintended consequences of regime change in Iraq. But I would venture to say that part of his reluctance to fight Hussein in 2003 was because of his Australian heritage. It was not attacked in 2001 and therefore was not sensitive to perceived threats from rogue nations that were at odds with the US.