On Combat

Why are civilians attracted to the fight in Iraq and what keeps them there? Motivations are more complex than simply the appeal of money. The Washington Post’s Steve Fainaru’s narrative of four security guards abducted in Iraq provides a small glimpse into the motivation of some of the thousands of armed civilians at war.
Many contractors are […]

[Read more →]

Navy Seal Marcus Luttrell’s SEAL team was discovered and engaged by a large Taliban force in Kunar Province, January 2005. Luttrell’s team killed 35 Taliban, but all three of Luttrell’s teammates died in the firefight and Luttrell was seriously wounded. As Luttrell hung onto life, a group of Afghans found him, cared for him, and […]

[Read more →]

A recent article in the Los Angeles Times, “Chopper Pilot Heads Back To A Riskier Iraq” by Richard Fausset (3/27/07), illuminated some difficulties in sustaining combat motivation in the face of repeat deployments. Initial passions are eroded over time by dangers, losses, the environment, and thoughts for family. Warriors with families face have to reconcile […]

[Read more →]

Clausewitz’s elements of friction: danger, chance, uncertainty, and exertion are the biggest elements that separate war from everything else. Our discussion focused on danger, the emotions it generates, and the impact this has on how we think and act. We then addressed the effect of prolonged exposure to combat stressors, and touched briefly on some […]

[Read more →]