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Everything wrong with COIN and warrior ethos.
I've used the French in Algeria, however this is a British example of how bad it can turn.
I've used the French in Algeria, however this is a British example of how bad it can turn.
Points to note:
#1 Racism is systemic, Arabs are seen as 'smelly dirty people' with racial slurs used as official names in military op plans
#2 Colonial nostalgia & power tripping as Mitchell doesn't respect the basic rights of the locals and asserts an authoritative rule
#1 Racism is systemic, Arabs are seen as 'smelly dirty people' with racial slurs used as official names in military op plans
#2 Colonial nostalgia & power tripping as Mitchell doesn't respect the basic rights of the locals and asserts an authoritative rule
#3 Tribalism in the cult of the leader, the exceptionalism of the regiment as a tribe and the unaccountability as the 'tribe' steals, tortures and kills
#4 Toxic masculinity with Mitchell adopting a macho rhetoric for the media, boasting he will be more violent than insurgents.
#4 Toxic masculinity with Mitchell adopting a macho rhetoric for the media, boasting he will be more violent than insurgents.
Finally, although supposedly more successful than the French Army during decolonization, the British tend to ignore their ethical failings and war crimes.
Frank Kitson's approach to COIN became the Army's textbook despite his appalling crimes when handling the Mau Mau crisis.
Frank Kitson's approach to COIN became the Army's textbook despite his appalling crimes when handling the Mau Mau crisis.
This is a prime example for my point in my article for @wavellroom https://wavellroom.com/2020/04/28/on-the-toxicity-of-the-warrior-ethos/
