tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719362718346107647.post2822927459059632932..comments2024-03-16T09:11:27.097-04:00Comments on GrEaT sAtAn"S gIrLfRiEnD: COIN Passé?GrEaT sAtAn'S gIrLfRiEnDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09760252542953109449noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719362718346107647.post-85789443126455868052011-02-28T15:57:04.007-05:002011-02-28T15:57:04.007-05:00You ask whether COIN has become passe. I don'...You ask whether COIN has become passe. I don't think it was ever "in" to begin with. <br /><br />We've all read about the epic struggle of the COINdinistas (many of which housed at CNAS, where, in full disclosure, I'm part of a Next Generation Leaders program). But the COINdinistas didn't outright win the debate on Afghanistan. Oh sure, they got their pick for USD(P) placed. And for a brief moment a COINdinista as ISAF Commander. But that got them a seat at the table, not an outright victory. (I wish I could site a specific link for this), but I recall reading in Bob Woodward's recent book (or somewhere) about a scene where the President handed a hand-typed two-pager to GEN Petraeus et al and told them specifically--(Paraphrasing:) "This is my strategy for victory in Afghanistan. It is not a full COIN strategy, though it contains many elements of COIN." (End paraphrase) <br /><br />So to sum it up: <br />1) COIN was never "in" so it can't be passe. <br />2) Obama's done his "surge," he's not going to further resource the military effort in Afghanistan so if his "Diet COIN" strategy didn't work, a full COIN strategy will never see the light of day. <br />3) Now Gates says the US won't be getting into any more land wars in Eurasia so the great COIN debate has ended. (I give it 15 to 25 more years till we are back in such slog. If history is any teacher).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com