Blazing the right path

Andrew Krepinevich highlights a basic truth of counterinsurgency: advisors are often far more effective than independent combat units from the occupying nation. The military has been slow to learn this lesson, often committing the wrong troops in the wrong numbers to this absolutely vital job - and paying the price when poorly advised ISF units failed to properly carry out their duties, fell apart under contact, or ended up serving as enablers for militias rather than enablers for stability and rule of law.

Luckily, many of the units in Iraq today understand the importance of competent IA/ISF...and have begun to understand their role differently as a result. This will hopefully fill the gaps left by an under-manned US advisory program.