COINstock ‘09
So I spent yesterday at a Marine Corps conference on counterinsurgency. It was packed (and the room was as hot as Baghdad in April). I’ll write several posts on it. But the big surprise to me was the big dog who wasn’t there: The U.S. Army. Aside from Gen. Petraeus, an outlier who was expelled ...
So I spent yesterday at a Marine Corps conference on counterinsurgency. It was packed (and the room was as hot as Baghdad in April). I’ll write several posts on it. But the big surprise to me was the big dog who wasn’t there: The U.S. Army. Aside from Gen. Petraeus, an outlier who was expelled into the Joint World long ago, and his posse member Brig. Gen. H.R. McMaster, no Army officers spoke. It amazes me that there were more speakers from my little CNAS (pop. maybe 35 on a good day) than from the Army (pop. more than half a million).
Note: This post has been updated.
Ghaith Abdul-Ahad/Getty Images
Thomas E. Ricks is a former contributing editor to Foreign Policy. Twitter: @tomricks1
More from Foreign Policy
Chinese Hospitals Are Housing Another Deadly Outbreak
Authorities are covering up the spread of antibiotic-resistant pneumonia.
Henry Kissinger, Colossus on the World Stage
The late statesman was a master of realpolitik—whom some regarded as a war criminal.
The West’s False Choice in Ukraine
The crossroads is not between war and compromise, but between victory and defeat.
The Masterminds
Washington wants to get tough on China, and the leaders of the House China Committee are in the driver’s seat.
Sign up for World Brief
FP’s flagship evening newsletter guiding you through the most important world stories of the day, written by Alexandra Sharp. Delivered weekdays.
By submitting your email, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and to receive email correspondence from us. You may opt out at any time.