TED Talk - Thomas Barnett: Let's rethink America's military strategy - how to start winning hearts and minds
So in recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, one of the biggest issues has been that the US / Coalition goes in, kicks ass, but then promptly makes everyone hate them, due to their heavy handed tactics.
What Thomas Barnett suggests, is to split the current US military into 2 forces:
The "Leviathan" force would resemble the current military, capable of toppling dictatorships in days by using the best and most lethal weaponry available. They train for war, they don't train for peacekeeping. They crush the enemy.
Following right behind them would then be the "Sys Admin" force, which would carry out the years of peacekeeping, pulling the damaged nation back onto its feet. They rebuild infrastructure, negotiate treaties between tribes, help out the locals, etc. They win the hearts and minds.
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