Day 17: Counterinsurgency

The global war on terrorism has been a learning experience for our country, especially for the military. We, as a global superpower, have always flexed our military muscle in response to atrocities that threaten our freedom as Americans, and for the most part we have always emerged victorious. Our approach to the war on terrorism today has focused less on showing off American firepower (missiles, bombs, planes, tanks, etc...) and shifted to the use of combat advisor teams whose goal is to be experts in the theory and practice of counterinsurgency (sorry...big military word). Here are some guiding principles that were discussed in class today...

1. Legitimacy is the Main Objective - we must ensure that the people view the Afghan central government as an organization that is there to preserve and protect the rights of the people. As US military forces training the Afghan national army and police forces...we are representatives of the central government.

2. Unity of Effort - the different countries and organizations involved (NATO countries, various military branches, and the Afghan government) need to continue to work towards the same goal.

3. Intelligence Drives Operations - "Intel" or information regarding the operative environment (which is obtained from the people) allows an advisor team to be more effective. The gathering of valuable "intel" relies on the strength of the relationship with the people we be training and the local people we will be serving.

4. Long Term Commitment - our goal as military advisors is not only to merely train Afghan police, military members, and medical personnel, but to also establish a commitment to a safe and free Afghanistan.

5. Empathy Leads to Competency - by placing ourselves in the shoes of our counterparts, taking the time to learn about their prior experiences, and building trust and rapport...that will lead to a highly motivated and competent team.

6. You Will Never Win...Nor Should You - in other words, I am not there to gain a victory for me or the United States...the victory is for the Afghan people. We are NOT there to take credit for anything...humility will be our most powerful weapon.

Don't these principles sound familiar? As Christians, is not our first goal to legitimize the government of Christ through the example of his character in us? Are we not bound to a great commission that empowers us to take His gospel to the ends of the Earth? Have we not the Word of God, the Bible, as the ultimate source of "intel" regarding the treasures of the kingdom of God? Are we not called to a fully surrendered commitment to His will? Are we not called to a life of service that is motivated by a love for others which will in turn lead to an increase of His kingdom? Are the things that we accomplish in this lifetime a reflection of our own effort or the efforts of Christ in us?

I pray that we all remember the "insurgency" that is clamoring for new recruits in our world today. Satan is using every weapon, every resource, every evil tactic to win souls to his side. May we all be experts in being "counterinsurgents" for Christ!

"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,

let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that so easily ensnares us,
and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith,
who for the joy that set before Him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and has sat down at the
right hand of the throne of God."
Hebrews 12:1,2 NKJV