Why will this hurt them
PSA asks-As long as each of the cells is successful in it's mission why does this lack of central command hurt them?
and then answers precisely--Is it because there is no one with the 'big picture' guiding them and therefore the potential exists for the cells to actually work in opposition with each other?
It is not so much that they work in opposition of each other as they can't gain synergy---they can't achieve any meaningful goal because small groups operating independently can not think strategically---or certainly they can not follow through strategically. One of my favorite examples of strategic brilliance was the Doolittle Raid in WWII (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doolittle_Raid)
The raid itself was a small tactical operation of little importance---except that at the strategic level Japan was forced to think defensively----they could be struck. Now--I have argued and believe that they over-reacted to the Raid which put them at a large disadvantage, but that said they still had to contend with the fact that their homeland was vulnerable---but here is the crux--their homeland was not vulnerable to a flight of B-25s----it was vulnerable to the United States Navy. That is the flaw in the lack of central command----without it you can not build the capability to be able to follow through at a strategic level.
PSA "Also, when you talk about strength that can be turned against you is that the same as your view that while the terrorists can't win, America can lose?" Yes--I know a bunch of chuckle heads are going to jump on the infrastructure bandwagon because of Minneapolis so I hesitate to do so, but the fact is that the more money we (deficit) spend to combat insignificant acts of terror, the less able we are to fund our infrastructure---eventually it will break.
and then answers precisely--Is it because there is no one with the 'big picture' guiding them and therefore the potential exists for the cells to actually work in opposition with each other?
It is not so much that they work in opposition of each other as they can't gain synergy---they can't achieve any meaningful goal because small groups operating independently can not think strategically---or certainly they can not follow through strategically. One of my favorite examples of strategic brilliance was the Doolittle Raid in WWII (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doolittle_Raid)
The raid itself was a small tactical operation of little importance---except that at the strategic level Japan was forced to think defensively----they could be struck. Now--I have argued and believe that they over-reacted to the Raid which put them at a large disadvantage, but that said they still had to contend with the fact that their homeland was vulnerable---but here is the crux--their homeland was not vulnerable to a flight of B-25s----it was vulnerable to the United States Navy. That is the flaw in the lack of central command----without it you can not build the capability to be able to follow through at a strategic level.
PSA "Also, when you talk about strength that can be turned against you is that the same as your view that while the terrorists can't win, America can lose?" Yes--I know a bunch of chuckle heads are going to jump on the infrastructure bandwagon because of Minneapolis so I hesitate to do so, but the fact is that the more money we (deficit) spend to combat insignificant acts of terror, the less able we are to fund our infrastructure---eventually it will break.
posted by Tom at 10:30 AM
1 Comments:
Okay, I can accept that the lack of strategic vision means that they are going to be unable to have the significant impact they would be aiming for. But, isn't it in their interest to continue these low level operations to keep them on our radar with a view that, at some point in the future, someone is going to come along to provide the strategic vision?
Is it a resources issue? Are they using up valuable resources for no significant impact so that if a strategic leader comes out of the woodwork they are no longer going to have the resources to put into action any plans they may have?
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