Where elite praetorianism of SOF culture at its worst that is problematic in US or EU militaries can have a disastrous impact on states in Africa and elsewhere in which US and EU operations are focused on counter-terrorism
Good piece by Chris Ogunmodede
worldpoliticsreview.com/trend-lines/29…
Good piece by Chris Ogunmodede
worldpoliticsreview.com/trend-lines/29…
So many challenges around terrorist insurgency and banditry linked with it hinge on law enforcement and public order tasks that need solid local police backed up by well-trained gendarmeries.
Yet an often counter-productive cult of SOF dominates US and European CT efforts.
Yet an often counter-productive cult of SOF dominates US and European CT efforts.
The cult of SOF is a kind of strategic stimulant that gives CT campaigns and training efforts in places like the Sahel a quick short term high often at the expense of the much more complicated struggle to help build law enforcement capacity that enjoys local legitimacy
In any conflict a small elite praetorian guard that can hammer terror groups, insurgents and bandits in a night-time raid doesn't help much if there are no disciplined and loyal local cops with gendarmerie back-up that can uphold state authority once SOF leave in the morning
Training SOF and equipping army units that can't build on a law enforcement eco-system of police and gendarmes won't do much to stabilise struggling states
But instilling local SOF with cultures of elite praetorianism is a way to make coups with further instability more likely
But instilling local SOF with cultures of elite praetorianism is a way to make coups with further instability more likely
Change EU CT TLDR:
If you need to run a police action call the cops.
If the cops need backup, send in the gendarmes.
If you need to run a police action call the cops.
If the cops need backup, send in the gendarmes.
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