Tuesday, March 19, 2013

The Iraq War Changed U.S. Military Tactics

U.S. Army Spc. Deonty Eastmon secures his sector during a patrol through Al Betra, Iraq, Nov. 26, 2007, as the rest of his squad asks local residents about recent insurgent activity. Eastmon is assigned to the 101st Airborne Division, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Adrian Cadiz

Iraq Changed U.S. Military Tactics – Think Quick And Small -- McClatchy News

WASHINGTON — Ten years ago, the United States massed a traditional military force behind sand-berm walls separating Kuwait from Iraq.

Hundreds of thousands of soldiers, sailors and Marines in camouflaged chemical warfare uniforms sat in or stood near idling trucks, personnel carriers and Humvees. They were waiting for an hours-long barrage of artillery and bunker-busting bombs to soften up whatever forces Saddam Hussein had still willing to defend the border, before rolling forward to Baghdad.

But on the moment – March 20th along that border, March 19th in the United States – that the American military was preparing regime change in Iraq, the evolution within the military in the decade since has also been significant.

Read more ....

My Comment: The use of Special Forces, the importance of intelligence and having small units available to act very quickly on this acquired intelligence, seeking allies in the local population, understanding the culture and geography of the war zone, the use of technology for surveillance and as a tool to plan future missions .... as well acting to quickly eliminate high valued targets when the opportunity arises .... these tactics (and more) is what the U.S. military has learned (and is still learning) from it's Iraq experience.

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