Is Armor Antithetical to Good COIN?
Is Armor Antithetical to Good COIN?
by Frank G. Hoffman
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Undoubtedly everyone has seen the recent report in the Washington Post on the introduction of a company of Marine M1A1 tanks into unruly Helmand province in Afghanistan.
Given the rugged terrain and complex nature of the ongoing operation there, the Marines will certainly get a moral boost out of having some armor protected firepower. Surely the Taliban is not happy about this new development unless someone’s really trying for the proverbial 72 virgin martyrdom. Taliban elements will not be trying to sneak up on any isolated outposts that have a pair of tanks at the gate either. Ambushes will be more circumspect anytime a tank is escorting a unit. While many a SOF operator will tell you that the drone of an AC-130 overhead is sweet to his ears, the grunts will tell you that there is nothing like the crack and reach of a 120mm gun to keep the wolves at bay.
Download the Full Article: Is Armor Antithetical to Good COIN?
The author is a retired Marine infantryman and national security analyst. He is on the board of advisors or editorial board at Small Wars Journal, Joint Force Quarterly and Prism. These views are his own and do not reflect the policy of the Department of Defense or any agency with which he has been affiliated.
