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Yes, I watched it and if it's an accurate depiction of what's going on, it's troubling.
First of all, because of the multiple layers of approval necessary to employ any kind of air resources. I'm well aware of the need to minimize civilian casualties, but such a cumbersome and unresponsive system as that needs to be changed. There were instances depicted where those Marines had to simply do with their bodies what could have been done with firepower because authorization wasn't forthcoming. It highlights one of the downside's of our modern technologies: Instant, real time views of the battlefield make the impulse to micro-manage the fighting damn near irresistable.
Secondly, with all the resources thrown at that operation, why was the job of actually clearing the town left to a single unit, without artillery support, organic mortars or re-enforcements?
Third, the operation was announced so far in advance that the Taliban had literally weeks to prepare and that's inexcusable. Gen. McChrystal gave the whole world notice that we were coming and all that did was put the lives of our troops at greater risk. Never doubt for a second that his forewarning of the enemy was a political gambit designed to make us look compassionate and caring. To me, it's just another indication of how weak and inexperienced our senior commanders are and how much more they know about playing political games than they do actual combat leadership.
I've about come to the conclusion that every officer above the rank of Brig. Gen ought to be cashiered and replaced by field commanders from Brigade level on down.
Fourth, and least surprising, is that all that effort, blood and treasure hasn't accomplished a whole hellvua lot. The Afghan's themselves opinioned that all our troops had accomplished was to make matters worse.
Wanna know why? Because nobody asked them what they wanted or needed from us. Instead, strategies and tactics were developed utilizing the input of our paid flunkies in Kabul, who aren't about to tell us anything we don't want to hear. It's all about money, power and influence, not victory in any meaningful sense.
Prediction: We'll keep on following what's so obviously a failed strategy until we can claim success, not victory, and go home, leaving Afghanistan to start the cycle of tribal-driven civil war all over again.
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