Do the Reading, Do the Math: Lessons for the Military for an Uncertain Strategic Future
Garri Hendell | 10.25.21
There is an apocryphal story that features the founder of the (now defunct) Army school of critical thinking, Colonel Steven Rotkoff. The story involves generals planning the Iraq invasion gaining access to inside, expert information that America’s military foray into that country would not be successful in its then-present form due to insufficient American resolve in the face of a massive and complex problem set. The story ends with the generals being unable to act on that information, as they realize that America’s war logic had its own, inexorable agenda. America’s mistaken premise was already baked into the war plan and there was no way to fix it.
“You are wrong. This is not going to be the liberation of Paris with pretty girls throwing flowers at your feet,” al-Khoei warned. “This is going to be post-Tito Yugoslavia. Everybody is going to kill everybody.”
The Two American generals looked at each other and shook their heads.
“How long do you think we should be prepared to stay in your country?” Thurman asked warily.
The imam pulled out another cigar, lit it, and took another long drag.
“How long have you been in Germany? Sixty years?” he asked. “That should be about right. It’s going to take two generations to change Iraq. Maybe then you can leave.”
https://mwi.usma.edu/do-the-reading-do-the-math-lessons-for-the-military-for-an-uncertain-strategic-future/
