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New Army Manual Showcases Softer Side
US News and World Report via Yahoo ^ | 10-14-2008 | Anna Mulrine

Posted on 10/14/2008 12:44:54 PM PDT by Mr Fuji

The U.S. Army is showcasing its softer side with the unveiling of its new Stability Operations Field Manual, one of a number of how-to guides it puts together for soldiers.

The new manual is garnering lots of attention--and drawing controversy--in part because it marks a major shift in military thinking. Tellingly, it omits any reference to President Bush's democracy-promotion agenda. But, for the first time, the Pentagon is saying explicitly that nation-building is just as important as conventional military operations like tank wars--and perhaps more so.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: army; manual; military

1 posted on 10/14/2008 12:44:55 PM PDT by Mr Fuji
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To: Mr Fuji

If you open the article you will find this Gem:

“”Lt. Gen. William Caldwell, who spearheaded the writing of the manual, spoke this week about the need for U.S. military action that betters “the human condition.” He talked, for example, about the U.S. military’s role in helping out after natural disasters brought on, he added, by global climate change and rural-urban migration. “”

I bet most folks in our military thinks this is a sad joke.


2 posted on 10/14/2008 12:48:39 PM PDT by ohioman
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To: ohioman

We’ll be just like the Dutch Army. Long hair and smoking dope.

Well, this is what Obama and the rest of the Marxists want. It’s going to take 4 years of Obama and a Democratic Congress to wake this country up. Next time (if there is a next time. Obama may declare martial law and outlaw any further elections “until further notice) we will nominate a conservative. But the nomination process must be changed. No more of this open voting allowing independents and Dems to vote in our primaries.


3 posted on 10/14/2008 1:19:47 PM PDT by Signalman
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To: ohioman

Certainly Caldwell is a sad joke. But the joke is on us.


4 posted on 10/14/2008 1:47:44 PM PDT by webrover
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To: Bobkk47

Given his totalitarian tendencies towards anyone who does not worship him, the idea of martial law or something even worse coming from him is not even a slight stretch. He must not, under any circumstances be allowed to become the president.


5 posted on 10/14/2008 1:50:37 PM PDT by webrover
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To: Mr Fuji

On the face of it, this sounds exceptionally silly.


6 posted on 10/14/2008 4:28:17 PM PDT by Jack Hammer (here)
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To: Mr Fuji

A good idea. “Nation building” as a mission will never go away, so we may as well develop something resembling doctrinal answers on how to approach the problem.


7 posted on 10/14/2008 4:31:47 PM PDT by Future Snake Eater (My freq'n head hertz...)
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To: Future Snake Eater

“”He talked, for example, about the U.S. military’s role in helping out after natural disasters brought on, he added, by global climate change and rural-urban migration. “”

Did you not see the part above? This has nothing to do with Nation Building.


8 posted on 10/15/2008 5:47:03 AM PDT by ohioman
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To: ohioman

Yeah, I saw it. Idiotic statements by some general don’t change the fact that we’ll always be involved in nation-building in some capacity. Instead of reinventing the wheel every time, now we’re starting up a little institutional memory. This is a good thing.


9 posted on 10/15/2008 6:52:45 AM PDT by Future Snake Eater (My freq'n head hertz...)
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