Comments on: Adaptability http://www.captainsjournal.com/2007/05/21/adaptability/ News & Commentary on Warfare, Policy and Counterterrorism Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:02:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Herschel Smith http://www.captainsjournal.com/2007/05/21/adaptability/#comment-18754 Herschel Smith Mon, 21 May 2007 17:02:12 +0000 http://www.captainsjournal.com/2007/05/21/adaptability/#comment-18754 For the readers, Kat is referring to my article entitled Smith Responds. Regarding the gender mistake, it is impossible to know this sort of thing with the use of screen names (and I would add that given a gender neutral name it becomes embarrassing to make errors). I generally don't advocate the use of screen names (as you can see I use my own name) unless there is justification for doing so (e.g., a member of the military posting over a forum). But whatever ... this is best left up to the commenter, I suppose. For the readers, Kat is referring to my article entitled Smith Responds.

Regarding the gender mistake, it is impossible to know this sort of thing with the use of screen names (and I would add that given a gender neutral name it becomes embarrassing to make errors). I generally don’t advocate the use of screen names (as you can see I use my own name) unless there is justification for doing so (e.g., a member of the military posting over a forum). But whatever … this is best left up to the commenter, I suppose.

]]> By: Breakerjump http://www.captainsjournal.com/2007/05/21/adaptability/#comment-18749 Breakerjump Mon, 21 May 2007 15:55:32 +0000 http://www.captainsjournal.com/2007/05/21/adaptability/#comment-18749 I'm almost positive...Mr. Smith disabled comments in the previous post because....drum roll...he did not wish for there to be further discussion of the previous sort attached to his response. So instead, you are attaching your discussion (and of the previous sort) to a posting that is entirely unrelated. Good job. I’m almost positive…Mr. Smith disabled comments in the previous post because….drum roll…he did not wish for there to be further discussion of the previous sort attached to his response. So instead, you are attaching your discussion (and of the previous sort) to a posting that is entirely unrelated.

Good job.

]]> By: kat-missouri http://www.captainsjournal.com/2007/05/21/adaptability/#comment-18732 kat-missouri Mon, 21 May 2007 07:32:42 +0000 http://www.captainsjournal.com/2007/05/21/adaptability/#comment-18732 Dear Mr. Smith, As you may have perceived, reading and writing on the internet may sometimes cause a miscommunication of intent as each tries to decipher the meaning of the other. I am unsure why you turned off comments to your reply below, but I thought I should clarify a few things: 1) "Kat" is short for Kathleen. I am a "she" not a "he". I assure you that I am not offended, but simply wanted to make this clarification for future reference. 2) When I said "engage", I meant exactly what you said you did not advocate. I meant that we should not try to change, dissuade or other wise critique Islam or any sort of radical religion that is not "ours", we being largely Christian. When I say we don't have "moral authority" to do so, it is not to say that we do not understand or have ideas about what could possibly be wrong with stoning women and cutting the heads off of captives. I mean that those co-religionists who share those beliefs will not find us particularly credible. Mainly because we are the outsiders and our experience in social groups set to religion should tell us that such comments or actions by outsiders usually cause those who feel attacked (whether perceived or real) to coalesce into a larger defensive/offensive organization. Something we do not want. This is why I advocate not "engaging" a religion or faith, but looking at and interacting with it and those who adhere to it through secular structures. I would agree that we should be cognitive of religious practices and beliefs since it would inform exactly how to relate to those we wish to 'win' and keep us from inadvertently causing a mishap that would be detrimental to the mission. This is very useful and necessary on the public diplomacy part of the counterinsurgency program as well as some military operations. I have a few more clarifications, but it's late, I've had a long weekend and the boss expects me at work Monday bright and early. So, I'll post a link when I'm ready. Dear Mr. Smith,

As you may have perceived, reading and writing on the internet may sometimes cause a miscommunication of intent as each tries to decipher the meaning of the other. I am unsure why you turned off comments to your reply below, but I thought I should clarify a few things:

1) “Kat” is short for Kathleen. I am a “she” not a “he”. I assure you that I am not offended, but simply wanted to make this clarification for future reference.

2) When I said “engage”, I meant exactly what you said you did not advocate. I meant that we should not try to change, dissuade or other wise critique Islam or any sort of radical religion that is not “ours”, we being largely Christian. When I say we don’t have “moral authority” to do so, it is not to say that we do not understand or have ideas about what could possibly be wrong with stoning women and cutting the heads off of captives. I mean that those co-religionists who share those beliefs will not find us particularly credible. Mainly because we are the outsiders and our experience in social groups set to religion should tell us that such comments or actions by outsiders usually cause those who feel attacked (whether perceived or real) to coalesce into a larger defensive/offensive organization. Something we do not want.

This is why I advocate not “engaging” a religion or faith, but looking at and interacting with it and those who adhere to it through secular structures.

I would agree that we should be cognitive of religious practices and beliefs since it would inform exactly how to relate to those we wish to ‘win’ and keep us from inadvertently causing a mishap that would be detrimental to the mission. This is very useful and necessary on the public diplomacy part of the counterinsurgency program as well as some military operations.

I have a few more clarifications, but it’s late, I’ve had a long weekend and the boss expects me at work Monday bright and early.

So, I’ll post a link when I’m ready.

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