tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1168072286927262850.post5891702604164653777..comments2013-02-14T11:13:48.505-08:00Comments on Reasoned Ignorance: Military Overstretch in the MaghrebAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04831599729713091305noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1168072286927262850.post-37398515053547252982013-01-22T08:56:15.867-08:002013-01-22T08:56:15.867-08:00I tell you what mate, if you can summarise it in s...I tell you what mate, if you can summarise it in such a way that people without postgrad IR degrees can understand it (under 1000 words would be good) I'll post it on this blog. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04831599729713091305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1168072286927262850.post-78768615058418214722013-01-22T08:30:24.190-08:002013-01-22T08:30:24.190-08:00You need to see my paper on british interests in E...You need to see my paper on british interests in East Africa ; ) It was in relation to Somalia but, the same goes, or at least some of it. <br />russwoody18https://www.blogger.com/profile/17385976948492619174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1168072286927262850.post-62562915453520639912013-01-22T08:22:26.998-08:002013-01-22T08:22:26.998-08:00Thank you for the comment, it is much appreciated!...Thank you for the comment, it is much appreciated! I hope you're right about this, although I honestly think that this is a commitment to action which has been made in haste and in reaction to events, rather than according to a grand design. I don't think anyone knows what it means yet. Also, remember that intel and technical assistance is how most conflicts start in the modern age. They are usually related to an achievable and specified goal in order to prevent unwanted escalation. Have you seen a political objective for this conflict yet? If we don't know what the goal is, what is stopping mission creep?<br /><br />I would also point to the example of Libya to show how the SDR is completely ignored when the government is reacting to events. It made a very open ended commitment (which for a while looked like it would result in long term stalemate) to war with no reference to the restrictions implied by the review.<br /><br />And for the record "something or other" is always a good enough source for this blog ;-) Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04831599729713091305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1168072286927262850.post-406607035398543442013-01-22T08:07:28.317-08:002013-01-22T08:07:28.317-08:00I am thinking that such a commitment will be more ...I am thinking that such a commitment will be more surgical and intel based rather than a large scale green army operation. I was watching something or other (not the best source) regarding this discussion and it reiterated my thoughts on the 'new' counter terrorism strategy at home and overseas. Also, having recently been to a talk, in London, by senior military officials it makes sense that while job cuts are being dished out in the army to the infantry the Int. corps is heavily recruiting (while numbers are being cut in the mil. the Int corps is significantly increasing its rank) and training for CT amongst other things. russwoody18https://www.blogger.com/profile/17385976948492619174noreply@blogger.com