[ricpic]

Although the article is strongly tinged with anti-Americanism, I would not call it drivel. It may well be that the doctrine of force protection may have had a rigid effect on the American troops responses to Iraqi behavior in the immediate post war period. Gaining the trust of the civilian population of a beaten country is always a tricky business. It may be that the seemingly minor decision of the Brits to take off their helmets, and wear berets (to give just one example), has paid big dividends in gaining the trust of the locals in Basra. Maybe the doctrine of force protection needs some modification. Sometimes something can be learned by the US military from another military organization.

[miss marmelstein]

The Brits wore berets during all those years in Northern Ireland. I don't remember that it pacified anyone. And Ronald Merrick, the protaganist of "The Jewel and the Crown" wore culottes but it didn't stop him from treating the natives like dirt! Soon the British papers will suggest we send over Harvey Fierstein in a smock to control the Iragis.