What Now Zad Can Teach Us About Counterinsurgency

From The Captain's Journal:

We have been covering and analyzing U.S. Marine Corps operations in Now Zad, Afghanistan, for nine months, ever since our friend Major Cliff Gilmore (USMC) sent us a direct and unpublished report on his visit to Now Zad. Three months ago we observed that Now Zad was abandoned, and questioned the strategic significance of holding it. More than two months ago we got our answer: the Marines were working to shape the battle space by moving insurgents into disposable positions.

Insurgents are there even though the population isn’t. There is major combat action in Now Zad as demonstrated by this video. We discussed the fact that there aren’t enough troops to clear and hold, and as it turns out, Now Zad was being used as a place for R&R for insurgents. Now this AP video gives us an even clearer description of the need for additional Marines.

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My Comment: The Captain's Journal gives another insightful look at the counter insurgency campaign that is now occurring in Afghanistan. I have always been a fan of his writings, and his blog (along with a few others) has helped me understand the war in Afghanistan. Regardless of who you are .... reporter, journalist, blogger, academic, soldier, concerned citizen .... his blog should be on everyone's blog roll.