[Applause] good evening so the origins of my
good evening so the origins of my
good evening so the origins of my torture like go back a number of years –
torture like go back a number of years –
torture like go back a number of years – and I was seen down to watch the nightly
and I was seen down to watch the nightly
and I was seen down to watch the nightly news and two news stories came on a bell
news and two news stories came on a bell
news and two news stories came on a bell Iraq now the first news story was about
Iraq now the first news story was about
Iraq now the first news story was about the Iraqi recruiting centers and
the Iraqi recruiting centers and
the Iraqi recruiting centers and apparently enthusiasm was so great for
apparently enthusiasm was so great for
apparently enthusiasm was so great for joining the new Iraqi army that the line
joining the new Iraqi army that the line
joining the new Iraqi army that the line went out the door down the street and
went out the door down the street and
went out the door down the street and around the corner so much so that the
around the corner so much so that the
around the corner so much so that the insurgents had started a campaign of car
insurgents had started a campaign of car
insurgents had started a campaign of car bombing to try to stem the tide of
bombing to try to stem the tide of
bombing to try to stem the tide of enthusiasm for joining the new Iraqi
enthusiasm for joining the new Iraqi
enthusiasm for joining the new Iraqi army the second news story was about the
army the second news story was about the
army the second news story was about the performance of the new rocky army Mosul
performance of the new rocky army Mosul
performance of the new rocky army Mosul and it wasn’t very flattering so what
and it wasn’t very flattering so what
and it wasn’t very flattering so what happened was that they were deployed
happened was that they were deployed
happened was that they were deployed down to Mosul and these new Iraqi units
down to Mosul and these new Iraqi units
down to Mosul and these new Iraqi units deserted along the way so the Sunni and
deserted along the way so the Sunni and
deserted along the way so the Sunni and Shia and Kurds they were deployed
Shia and Kurds they were deployed
Shia and Kurds they were deployed together down to Mosul and they decided
together down to Mosul and they decided
together down to Mosul and they decided along the road why am i fighting with
along the road why am i fighting with
along the road why am i fighting with these guys against my co ethnics and
these guys against my co ethnics and
these guys against my co ethnics and they these new units began to
they these new units began to
they these new units began to disintegrate so this got me thinking
disintegrate so this got me thinking
disintegrate so this got me thinking about armies and the model of army that
about armies and the model of army that
about armies and the model of army that were trying to impose on these countries
were trying to impose on these countries
were trying to impose on these countries now this is really important it’s
now this is really important it’s
now this is really important it’s important for the host countries
important for the host countries
important for the host countries themselves because security is the
themselves because security is the
themselves because security is the concrete foundation upon which
concrete foundation upon which
concrete foundation upon which everything else is built whether you’re
everything else is built whether you’re
everything else is built whether you’re talking about electricity and plumbing
talking about electricity and plumbing
talking about electricity and plumbing or the rule of law and good governance
or the rule of law and good governance
or the rule of law and good governance none of that can be built if there’s car
none of that can be built if there’s car
none of that can be built if there’s car bombs going off in the street i ADIZ and
bombs going off in the street i ADIZ and
bombs going off in the street i ADIZ and there’s ambushes on every second corner
there’s ambushes on every second corner
there’s ambushes on every second corner it’s also important for the United
it’s also important for the United
it’s also important for the United States the United States has the most
States the United States has the most
States the United States has the most powerful military in human history and
powerful military in human history and
powerful military in human history and if they can’t win they can’t win an in
if they can’t win they can’t win an in
if they can’t win they can’t win an in Vietnam they can’t win in Afghanistan
Vietnam they can’t win in Afghanistan
Vietnam they can’t win in Afghanistan they can’t win you know Iraq and the
they can’t win you know Iraq and the
they can’t win you know Iraq and the problem is is that they can’t rebuild
problem is is that they can’t rebuild
problem is is that they can’t rebuild these militaries in these
these militaries in these
these militaries in these trees passing the baton of security onto
trees passing the baton of security onto
trees passing the baton of security onto a reliable and effective host nation
a reliable and effective host nation
a reliable and effective host nation military is the exit strategy it’s how
military is the exit strategy it’s how
military is the exit strategy it’s how you win and if they don’t seem to be out
you win and if they don’t seem to be out
you win and if they don’t seem to be out do this very well at the moment so I
do this very well at the moment so I
do this very well at the moment so I started thinking more broadly about
started thinking more broadly about
started thinking more broadly about armies and when you think about armies
armies and when you think about armies
armies and when you think about armies you probably conjure up the image of
you probably conjure up the image of
you probably conjure up the image of these mixed national armies it doesn’t
these mixed national armies it doesn’t
these mixed national armies it doesn’t matter about your ethnicity your race
matter about your ethnicity your race
matter about your ethnicity your race your religion whether you came from the
your religion whether you came from the
your religion whether you came from the South lost north or the east or the west
South lost north or the east or the west
South lost north or the east or the west we could all get climb on the bus
we could all get climb on the bus
we could all get climb on the bus together and you all become Marines or
together and you all become Marines or
together and you all become Marines or you all become soldiers you’re mixed up
you all become soldiers you’re mixed up
you all become soldiers you’re mixed up in this National Army but this model is
in this National Army but this model is
in this National Army but this model is really recent and it’s quite odd think
really recent and it’s quite odd think
really recent and it’s quite odd think back over 60,000 years of human history
back over 60,000 years of human history
back over 60,000 years of human history back when we first have evidence of
back when we first have evidence of
back when we first have evidence of people gathering together to fight other
people gathering together to fight other
people gathering together to fight other people you’ll be fighting in your tribe
people you’ll be fighting in your tribe
people you’ll be fighting in your tribe you’ve been fighting amongst your
you’ve been fighting amongst your
you’ve been fighting amongst your brother your cousin your father
brother your cousin your father
brother your cousin your father fast-forward again to the Middle Ages
fast-forward again to the Middle Ages
fast-forward again to the Middle Ages and you might have all watched that Mel
and you might have all watched that Mel
and you might have all watched that Mel Gibson movie Braveheart where you got
Gibson movie Braveheart where you got
Gibson movie Braveheart where you got the villager on the field of battle and
the villager on the field of battle and
the villager on the field of battle and he says I’m not gonna fight for died for
he says I’m not gonna fight for died for
he says I’m not gonna fight for died for these bastards and for the whole army
these bastards and for the whole army
these bastards and for the whole army starts to disintegrate that villager is
starts to disintegrate that villager is
starts to disintegrate that villager is talking to people he’s known his entire
talking to people he’s known his entire
talking to people he’s known his entire life next door neighbors cousins
life next door neighbors cousins
life next door neighbors cousins brothers again and that army was either
brothers again and that army was either
brothers again and that army was either all going to stay on that field of
all going to stay on that field of
all going to stay on that field of battle or is all gone berserk as one you
battle or is all gone berserk as one you
battle or is all gone berserk as one you can’t desert on your next-door neighbor
can’t desert on your next-door neighbor
can’t desert on your next-door neighbor how do you look their mother in the face
how do you look their mother in the face
how do you look their mother in the face fast-forward again to the first world
fast-forward again to the first world
fast-forward again to the first world war and local recruitment was still the
war and local recruitment was still the
war and local recruitment was still the model that most armies was build upon
model that most armies was build upon
model that most armies was build upon the slogan was that you would join
the slogan was that you would join
the slogan was that you would join together you train together you button
together you train together you button
together you train together you button together and you would fight together
together and you would fight together
together and you would fight together the pre-existing social bonds was going
the pre-existing social bonds was going
the pre-existing social bonds was going to be the glue that was going to hold
to be the glue that was going to hold
to be the glue that was going to hold these units together so they wouldn’t
these units together so they wouldn’t
these units together so they wouldn’t just run away without a fight for as a
just run away without a fight for as a
just run away without a fight for as a band of brothers together but you could
band of brothers together but you could
band of brothers together but you could add to this propaganda picture however
add to this propaganda picture however
add to this propaganda picture however was you or die together the first world
was you or die together the first world
was you or die together the first world war changed everything it changed things
war changed everything it changed things
war changed everything it changed things for two reasons the first was that the
for two reasons the first was that the
for two reasons the first was that the weapons of
weapons of
weapons of had gotten to a point where entire units
had gotten to a point where entire units
had gotten to a point where entire units could be wiped out in seconds imagine
could be wiped out in seconds imagine
could be wiped out in seconds imagine what would happen if an artillery shell
what would happen if an artillery shell
what would happen if an artillery shell was to fall upon this trench line all
was to fall upon this trench line all
was to fall upon this trench line all the sons of one town creep wiped out in
the sons of one town creep wiped out in
the sons of one town creep wiped out in seconds and you see this as you travel
seconds and you see this as you travel
seconds and you see this as you travel around small towns around the country
around small towns around the country
around small towns around the country you have two small towns that would seem
you have two small towns that would seem
you have two small towns that would seem similar in every way except that one has
similar in every way except that one has
similar in every way except that one has a woman Morel with a lot of names and
a woman Morel with a lot of names and
a woman Morel with a lot of names and the next town has relative a few names
the next town has relative a few names
the next town has relative a few names why because unfortunately one group of
why because unfortunately one group of
why because unfortunately one group of soldiers had artillery show for them or
soldiers had artillery show for them or
soldiers had artillery show for them or that they were sent to attack a
that they were sent to attack a
that they were sent to attack a particularly toughness trench line
particularly toughness trench line
particularly toughness trench line whereas the next town long may have got
whereas the next town long may have got
whereas the next town long may have got off fairly lightly the other thing that
off fairly lightly the other thing that
off fairly lightly the other thing that World War two changed was nationalism
World War two changed was nationalism
World War two changed was nationalism that governments learnt that they could
that governments learnt that they could
that governments learnt that they could beat the drum that they could wave the
beat the drum that they could wave the
beat the drum that they could wave the flag and young men would rally to the
flag and young men would rally to the
flag and young men would rally to the cause so they no longer needed to
cause so they no longer needed to
cause so they no longer needed to recruit locally in order to attract
recruit locally in order to attract
recruit locally in order to attract soldiers and have them stick together so
soldiers and have them stick together so
soldiers and have them stick together so when we think about armies we think
when we think about armies we think
when we think about armies we think about these new armies this this
about these new armies this this
about these new armies this this national army of them all being mixed
national army of them all being mixed
national army of them all being mixed together but yet this is a model that
together but yet this is a model that
together but yet this is a model that we’re trying to impose on these
we’re trying to impose on these
we’re trying to impose on these countries and it’s just not working one
countries and it’s just not working one
countries and it’s just not working one nationalism hasn’t risen to the point
nationalism hasn’t risen to the point
nationalism hasn’t risen to the point where people’s primary loyalty is to the
where people’s primary loyalty is to the
where people’s primary loyalty is to the country rather than to their local
country rather than to their local
country rather than to their local neighborhood the second is that often
neighborhood the second is that often
neighborhood the second is that often the conflict in these countries isn’t
the conflict in these countries isn’t
the conflict in these countries isn’t going to be the type that’s going to
going to be the type that’s going to
going to be the type that’s going to wipe out entire units all in one go it’s
wipe out entire units all in one go it’s
wipe out entire units all in one go it’s often insurgency and guerrilla warfare
often insurgency and guerrilla warfare
often insurgency and guerrilla warfare rather than the mass slaughter that we
rather than the mass slaughter that we
rather than the mass slaughter that we saw in the first world war
saw in the first world war
saw in the first world war so this first approach may not be work
so this first approach may not be work
so this first approach may not be work it isn’t working and it may not be
it isn’t working and it may not be
it isn’t working and it may not be appropriate for these countries that
appropriate for these countries that
appropriate for these countries that we’re trying to build new armies in a
we’re trying to build new armies in a
we’re trying to build new armies in a second approach though would be to just
second approach though would be to just
second approach though would be to just group all the co ethnics together so you
group all the co ethnics together so you
group all the co ethnics together so you go to Iraq and you build an army based
go to Iraq and you build an army based
go to Iraq and you build an army based upon a Kurdish army a sunni army and
upon a Kurdish army a sunni army and
upon a Kurdish army a sunni army and ashiya army now this isn’t going to work
ashiya army now this isn’t going to work
ashiya army now this isn’t going to work either because you’re building
either because you’re building
either because you’re building ready-made ethnic militias for when you
ready-made ethnic militias for when you
ready-made ethnic militias for when you depart so that second model is probably
depart so that second model is probably
depart so that second model is probably inappropriate as well so what my
inappropriate as well so what my
inappropriate as well so what my research is currently looking at is a
research is currently looking at is a
research is currently looking at is a third way something between these two
third way something between these two
third way something between these two extremes imagine an army where the unit
extremes imagine an army where the unit
extremes imagine an army where the unit that you wake up with or from the local
that you wake up with or from the local
that you wake up with or from the local neighborhood the unit that you eat with
neighborhood the unit that you eat with
neighborhood the unit that you eat with that you trained with that you pray with
that you trained with that you pray with
that you trained with that you pray with that you fight with or Co ethnics from
that you fight with or Co ethnics from
that you fight with or Co ethnics from the same background and the same
the same background and the same
the same background and the same community that you come from the glue is
community that you come from the glue is
community that you come from the glue is already pre-existing in the unit yet
already pre-existing in the unit yet
already pre-existing in the unit yet within the macro unit you’re mixed up so
within the macro unit you’re mixed up so
within the macro unit you’re mixed up so perhaps you could imagine an institution
perhaps you could imagine an institution
perhaps you could imagine an institution where at the company level or the
where at the company level or the
where at the company level or the battalion level you’re all her ethnics
battalion level you’re all her ethnics
battalion level you’re all her ethnics and your will being locally recruited
and your will being locally recruited
and your will being locally recruited but yet at the gate and regimental level
but yet at the gate and regimental level
but yet at the gate and regimental level you’re all mixed up so institutionally
you’re all mixed up so institutionally
you’re all mixed up so institutionally you can’t link in with other co efflux
you can’t link in with other co efflux
you can’t link in with other co efflux to form a ethnic militia when the
to form a ethnic militia when the
to form a ethnic militia when the international forces go home so this
international forces go home so this
international forces go home so this institutional approach isn’t going to be
institutional approach isn’t going to be
institutional approach isn’t going to be a super board so soldiers were still
a super board so soldiers were still
a super board so soldiers were still desert if you don’t pay them soldiers
desert if you don’t pay them soldiers
desert if you don’t pay them soldiers were still desert if their officers are
were still desert if their officers are
were still desert if their officers are hopeless but the model that we’ve been
hopeless but the model that we’ve been
hopeless but the model that we’ve been applying in South Vietnam Afghanistan
applying in South Vietnam Afghanistan
applying in South Vietnam Afghanistan Iraq clearly isn’t working and as we
Iraq clearly isn’t working and as we
Iraq clearly isn’t working and as we look forward to look forward but look
look forward to look forward but look
look forward to look forward but look for look in the future to future
for look in the future to future
for look in the future to future operations in Syria in Yemen impossible
operations in Syria in Yemen impossible
operations in Syria in Yemen impossible in Libya then we need to approach this
in Libya then we need to approach this
in Libya then we need to approach this with a new institutional model so Wars
with a new institutional model so Wars
with a new institutional model so Wars aren’t won these days through breaking
aren’t won these days through breaking
aren’t won these days through breaking things wars are won these days through
things wars are won these days through
things wars are won these days through fixing them and the sooner that our
fixing them and the sooner that our
fixing them and the sooner that our armies can learn to fix foreign
armies can learn to fix foreign
armies can learn to fix foreign militaries in a different way to the way
militaries in a different way to the way
militaries in a different way to the way that we do them the better it’s going to
that we do them the better it’s going to
that we do them the better it’s going to be for everybody thank you
be for everybody thank you
be for everybody thank you you
”
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