Same thing in Afghanistan!

02 May 07

Same thing in Afghanistan, from a friend and student who is there now:

"No different here! I am also routinely instructed by Army gate guards to download my weapons as I return from Indian Country. Interestingly, European posts require no such silliness!

I have foolishly tried to reason with these young lads at the gate, because I spent twelve years wearing the same, Infantry uniform, including the First Gulf War, and, of course, carry every day as a Federal Officer back in the States.

I should know better! Says I, 'I am expected to wander about with empty weapons?' 'Yes, sir, that's the rule.' is the mechanical reply.

As soon as we are through the gate, we stop, recharged our guns, and go merrily about our business. This has become SOP. However, I now make ita habit to bring some kind of gift for the overworked, unappreciated gents at the gate. Since then, my comings and goings have become a good deal smoother and vastly quicker.

The idea that anyone, anywhere, would carry firearms for serious social interaction, yet do so with them in any condition other than ready to fire at a moment's notice, is so stupid no 'discussion' appears necessary, at least among the sane. I know I am preaching to the choir, but it is frustrating nonetheless. Even in my own stateside Organization, we have grasseaters who insist, if a Special Agent is going to carry a gun in the office, he do it concealed. The message is clear, 'Those things are frightening, and, if they must be around, at least make it so we grasseaters can pretend they don't exist.'

Bureaucracies everywhere have a habit of attracting and nurturing herbivores. This would not be nearly the problem it is if they would just sit down and shut up, allowing those of us who stand ready to engage VCAs to do what we do. Sadly, who don't lead the way, just get in the way!

I am off my soapbox now."

Comment:

"They have given us into the hands of new, unhappy lords Lords without anger and honor, who dare not carry their swords They 'fight' by shuffling papers; they have bright, dead, alien eyes They look at our labor with laughter as a tired man looks at flies And the load of their loveless pity is worse than ancient wrongs Their doors are shut in the evenings; and they know no songs"

The Secret People G.K. Chesterton

Leaders select objectives, then direct others to achieve them.

Managers direct others to achieve objectives chosen by a third party.

Administrators direct others, using means selected by a third party, to achieve objectives chosen by a fourth party.

All three circumstances are part of an officer's life, but real officers yearn only for the former. Unfortunately, many military "leaders" are little more than managers, and many of those have consciously chosen to reduce themselves to the level of permanent administrator, because it is safer for their careers than risking real decision-making. They know that they will only be held to account an act of commission, ie making a decision that has a poor result. They will never be held to account for an act of omission, ie refusing to making a decision, even when that also has a poor result. In such an environment, which is the safest posture for the "career officer?" Do nothing. Become an administrator.

Thehe entire philosophy of any armed force should be TO ESTABLISH TRUST, well earned and deserved, at all levels. The foregoing encourages precisely the opposite, destroying trust and creating "leaders" who predictably dodge decisions by referring them "upstairs." When routine, thispractice promotes micro-management, which in turn degrades trust and slows tactical, decision-making loops. Over time, we find ourselves with a stilted, uninspired army, where those on the ground realize that they will not receive timely decisions from above, and that decisions that finally do come down will be long-since irrelevant to the actual situation before them. Troops, in turn, gradually begin to regard their officers, correctly, as disconnected, dithering buffoons who care not a whit for the Cause or the troops. Accordingly, they surreptitiously disregard their officers and keep as much decision-making as possible away from them. They also withhold information. Isolated, delusional officer/administrators continue to strut about, thinking everything is swell, until something blows up in their faces. Then, the priority immediately switches to assigning blame!

Such a sterile, hyper-politicized, ponderous, disconnected army is no match for an inspired, committed, agile, flexible force, even one smaller and less technologically sophisticated. History is replete with examples!

All of Western Civilization had better look up and see what is happening, lest we become yet another example, and are unceremoniously relegated to the dustbin of History!

/John