Wednesday, November 10, 2004

Fallujah recap in the Boyd/Lind framework (the three vectors: physical, mental, and moral). A little free thinking on the topic. Positive factors (in relation to the US): The city has been (mostly) taken.  Since it was only a TAZ, it is of moderate physical value.  Moderate moral victory for US audiences.  A wash on moral grounds for Iraqi audiences. News of casualties in major US media has been effectively suppressed/muted.  Moderate moral victory. Few guerrillas were killed.  Mild physical win. Menace, uncertainty, and mistrust (impact on enemy).  The slow and methodical nature of the operation didn't yield any improvement in moral menace, uncertainty, or mistrust.  A moral wash. Negative factors (in relation the insurgency):  Muslim clerics have called for a boycott of the election.  Moderate moral victory. Saudi clerics issue fatwa in support of insurgency.  Moderate moral victory. Sunni political party withdraws from the government.  Mild moral victory. Successful sympathetic attacks occur throughout country.  Mild moral, mental, and physical victory. Much of Fallujah has been destroyed (carried in the Arab press).  Moderate moral victory. A high percentage of the Iraqi military deserted prior to the fight.  Moderate physical and mental victory. US military/administration misinterpretation of the results of Fallujah.  Moderate mental victory. 11:15:57 AM    Comment_ Trackback []