Journal: Human Terrain Team (HTT)–Drama Part III

New Details Emerge in Salomi Hostage Case:  High Drama in HTS by John Stanton Observers indicate that two individuals in HTS leadership positions on the ground in Iraq—Lieutenant Colonel Byrd (Program Management Office – FWD)  and Michael Goains, GG-15 (Theater Coordination Element) had direct knowledge of Issa Salomi’s prior forays outside Camp Liberty/Victory Base Complex …

Journal: Iraqi Insurgents Capture Human Terrain Team (HTT) Member Issa T. Salomi

Steve Fondacaro and Montgomery Clough, senior program management of the US Army’s Human Terrain System (HTS), were warned as early as 2007 that Human Terrain Team members in Iraq and Afghanistan would become prey for insurgent groups. They were advised repeatedly that training must emphasize the dangerous environment HTS employees would be operating in. That …

Journal: DoD Mind-Set Time Lags Most Fascinating

Pentagon Shifts Its Strategy To Small-Scale Warfare By August Cole and Yochi J. Dreazen Wall Street Journal  January 30, 2010  Pg. 4 The shift in strategy sets up potential conflicts with defense contractors and powerful lawmakers uneasy with the Pentagon’s growing focus on smaller-scale, guerilla warfare. In particular, Defense Secretary Robert Gates has come to …

Journal: Afghanistan, Sun Tzu, State, & “Intelligence”

This post has four parts:  1)  Chuck Spinney’s long commentary; 2)  The original article with attachments from TruthDig; 3)  a ripost making three points about Chuck’s comments; 4) Chuck’s answer and a short comment from Robert Steele The Eikenberry Cables Turn Sun Tzu on His Head: Domestic Politics and the Art of Asymmetrical Bureaucratic War …