Winning at Counter-Insurgency

Posted By Uncle Jimbo

There are many factors that contribute to turning an insurgency around, the number one is convincing the people that working with you is the way to a better life. After Abu Ghraib you might think it a little odd that some of our best work is being done in the prison system that houses captured insurgents, you haven't met MG Stone. H has decided to use the full attention of the detainees to educate them about civil society and many other things. My favorite bit is this which points out how hope grows all "A Tree in Brooklyn"-ish.

Stone accuses al Qaeda of sometimes using children in their operations, so his detainee population includes more than 150 he considers "youths." These detainees undergo a similar education program to the adults - though the religion classes are "more a civics class" than the adult one - along with sports and art courses.

"I have not approached it from the perspective that it is warehousing," Stone said. "I have approached it as a battlespace ... that needs to be in sync with the greater strategy that Gen. Petraeus has laid out."

One vocational program puts the detainees to use making bricks to help rebuild Iraq's war-torn infrastructure. Each brick made by the detainees is inscribed in Arabic "brick by brick we rebuild our nation."

"We've had 14 or so youth not want to leave when they could have been let go," Stone recalled. "We've had parents visit us and say 'if he's working on his education please don't let him out.' "

I don't care how much the left screams and caterwauls, it is worth it.

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Comments

[Marieanne]

What a great story, and what a great strategy. It may sound trite, but this is the kind of thing that makes me proud to be an American.

[David M]

Trackbacked by The Thunder Run - Web Reconnaissance for 09/25/2007
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[chiropetra]

Marieanne don't forget that 'trite' merely means often-expressed.

Some things are trite because they are completely true.

Tactically MG Stone is brillant. But more than that he's an example for the rest of us of what it should mean to be an American.

[MICHAEL in MI]

Absolutely excellent post, Uncle Jimbo. Thanks for posting this. These are the stories that should be leading newscasts and on the front pages of the papers across the nation every single day. But alas...

That said, this is the reason I come to milblogs each and every day. To get the small, but important stories such as this. Thanks again for posting it, Uncle Jimbo.

And I echo Marieanne... the more I read about the success and progress of our military men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan, the more pride I have of being an American.

[Mommynator]

My estimation of our military has always been high, but things like this leave me speechless and in awe of the sane and truly loving minds of our military men and women.

[OldSoldier54]

This one is OUTSTANDING, UJ!! Hmmm ... maybe this guy should replace that idiot in the Stan because MG Stone appears to be unafraid to use his brain for something other than an ear spacer.

I love the part about the bricks ... this is one outstanding Marine!

I have come to believe that we are seeing a New Greatest Generation and MG Stone is one of their leaders, leading by example. With respect, Semper Fi Gen'ral.

[Cincinnati_Bob]

Very positive stuff. Thank you.

[mindy1]

changing the world, one mind at a time