Comments on: Too Little Tactical Technique

By: Joseph Moroco

Joseph Moroco — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 11:36:33 +0000

After reading Poole's Phantom Soldier I took my son to a future event sponsored by Wired. The Army's Natick labs had an exhibit about the connected battlefield. I asked what the point was and the guy running it said, well, we might have to reassign command. Centralization down to squad level.

By: Mysterian

Mysterian — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 04:55:40 +0000

“…and withdrawal discouraged.”

Legacy of Grant.

By: Toddy Cat

Toddy Cat — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 22:06:42 +0000

I was never a Marine, so I can’t say, but the Marines record of winning engagements is pretty good. Poole is making kind of a “the operation was a failure, but the patient lived, and got better” argument. I have no doubt that there is plenty that we could learn from the Asian way of war, but results count as well.

By: X-Ray

X-Ray — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 01:04:33 +0000

I cannot critique present practice but feel compelled to mention that back in the day, Marines not only practiced but performed in much the manner as Poole suggests. But for typing on a tablet I would take issue with Poole’s example of ambush techniques. There are good sound tactical reasons for Marine response to such.

By: Borepatch

Borepatch — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 15:28:57 +0000

Very interesting.