Special Report
Winning British Hearts and Minds
A military that pioneered counterinsurgency may need a refresher course.
(Page 2 of 2)
While Keane judges that British plans to leave Iraq reflect a failure of political nerve, Prime Minister Brown said that Britain’s withdrawal is possible because it has achieved its goals. U.K. forces have improved security, created economic development, and helped prepare for provincial elections, he said. The U.K. has helped to train 20,000 Iraqi troops and more than 22,000 police.
Christopher Pang of the British nongovernmental defense research group Royal United Services Institute, cites another reason: the U.K. military is withdrawing from Iraq because it wants to use its limited resources where it believes they are most strategically important, in Afghanistan. Pang is RUSI’s head of the Middle East and North Africa Program.
Cornish finds that the British are leaving because “In a sense, both positive and negative are coming together at the right time” — the British have been achieving their aims in the past half a year and the British Army is also “exhausted.”
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Grant Johnson| 3.9.09 @ 9:32AM
In reading about the British areas of Iraq and Afghanistan, I was always struck by the contrast between the British and American approach. Even when the US was doing poorly, our troops were trying to get the bad guys and promote democracy, freedom and decency. The British seemed to just camp out and let the locals do whatever they were used to doing. They seemed unwilling to "impose" their cultural norms.
I think the biggest obstacle the British face is the lack of conviction in their own society. You cannot advocate for good or fight evil if you have forgotten how to discern the difference, and lost interest in trying. A military will not be effective in advancing freedom when the society from which it draws its recruits is itself ambivalent about freedom.
John| 3.9.09 @ 10:49AM
Agreed, Grant. This is why western Europe as a whole is dying. Moral relativism, non-judgementalism, anything-goes-as-long-as-you're-not-Christian-ism are prevalent here.
Unfortunately, the same has been happening in the US too, though it's not quite as far gone. However, Obama will 'change' that for you guys!
O. Cromwell| 3.9.09 @ 2:18PM
British success in Northern Ireland was accomplished by appeasement to the IRA. They tried the same approach in Basrah but were called on it by the Americans.
Michael Tomlinson| 3.9.09 @ 3:24PM
The British military is on the slippery slope of becoming another useless European civil service in uniform. Despite being well trained with competent if unexceptional leadership they are underfunded, ill equipped an unappreciated by their civilian leadership and people. It wouldn’t take much to make them little more than another pathetic European mockery of a fighting force.
To make matters worse their civilian leadership is insipid and pathetic. Barack Obama insults and treats Gordon Brown insolently and what does Brown do? Sticks his head up Obama’s ass and tells the world everything is sweet smelling with Obama as “world president.”
Hopefully, the need never arises for the old British Lion, because all we’ve got now is a tabby.
Molon Labe| 3.9.09 @ 4:50PM
Michael, as an American I was appalled by Obama's treatment of Brown and the return of the Churchill bust.
Appalled, but not surprised. Those of us who were paying attention understood that he's a radical leftist who grew up in the thuggish local politics of Chicago - a corrupt Democratic empire - and who has never run any organization. Ever.
I was bemused and dismayed at the starry-eyed, religious fervor with which Europeans and British alike hailed his candidacy and openly, gleefully, hoped for his apotheosis.
Well, world - you've got it, as have we. And the damage is just beginning. Those who applauded his disdain for American power and heritage are just beginning to find out that he has little respect for yours as well.
And speaking of respect - from what I've heard the ranks of British military deserve it, although the senior leadership is abyssmal.
Jon Wright| 3.9.09 @ 8:33PM
I was saddened to hear that Obam..ma removed Churchill's bust from the White House. Since I named my son after Churchill, do you think Barry will give me the unwanted "trash"?
Christopher Holland| 3.9.09 @ 11:31PM
How on earth did the British ever get a reputation for excellence in fighting terrorism? They surrended to the IRA and the IRA still shows its contempt for them by killing them. The experts on fighting terrorism are the Israelis but fat chance anybody will ever talk about that.
Pingback| 3.10.09 @ 5:34PM
American Enterprise Institute Images links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
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