Death before dismount? : mechanization, force employment, and counterinsurgency outcomes in Iraq
Recent research suggests that heavily mechanized armies perform worse in counterinsurgency campaigns than those that use fewer vehicles. The U.S. military’s 2007 operations in Iraq, however, present an empirical quandary for the mechanization hypothesis: a vehicle-heavy army proved able to suppress an insurgency, allowing Iraqi leaders to work towards a long-term political solution. This paper argues that force employment, not mechanization, drives counterinsurgency outcomes—what matters is not that armies have many vehicles or soldiers, but how they choose to use them. When heavily mechanized forces change their tactics and doctrine to line up with counterinsurgency principles, shifting from an enemy-centric to a population-centric approach, outcomes dramatically improve while military-wide mechanization levels remain constant. Using an original dataset, this paper conducts a large-n regression analysis of the impacts of mechanization at the provincial level in Iraq, and finds little support for the mechanization hypothesis. A subsequent comparative case study, of the heavily mechanized 3 Armored Cavalry Regiment’s operations in Tall Afar and the light infantry 82 Airborne Division’s operations in Fallujah, indicate that force employment rather than mechanization is a key indicator of counterinsurgency outcomes. The finding has important implications for force structure policy, as it indicates that mechanized forces can indeed conduct successful counterinsurgency campaigns. Thesis Advisor: Roger D. Petersen Title: Arthur and Ruth Sloan Professor of Political Science
Sadr City: The Armor Pure Assault in Urban Terrain
Abstract : Baghdad, Kut, and An Najaf were scenes of concerted attacks by the Mahdi army throughout Iraq on 4 April 2004. On that afternoon, elements of the Mahdi army engaged multiple elements of 2d Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment (2-5 CAV), 1st Cavalry Division, nearly simultaneously throughout Sadr City in northern Baghdad. Twenty soldiers from Comanche Red Platoon, 2-5 CAV, had become isolated in the northern central portion of Sadr City, and available vehicle assets prohibited the unit's exfiltration. Soldiers from C Troop, 2d Battalion, 37th Armor (Crusaders), attached to the 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment, conducted a hasty attack into Sadr City to relieve the isolated infantry platoon. The company attack, relief of Comanche Red, and attack to Camp War Eagle lasted over 3 hours. There were many lessons learned from this attack: (1) Reconnaissance by fire is very effective against strong dismounted opposition in urban terrain; (2) During military operations in urban terrain, tank units without infantry support need to fight open hatch; (3) Once battle was joined, Mahdi army elements demonstrated incredible commitment to recover their casualties and equipment; (4) Mahdi army elements are inexperienced with the RPG; (5) Mahdi army elements set many burning roadblocks that had to be destroyed immediately; (6) Mahdi army elements are intimidated by 120mm main gun engagements; (7) 120mm HEAT is better than .50-caliber for limiting collateral damage; (8) All tanks require two radios; (9) Air ground integration during company-level attacks is critical; (10) Communications net selection in MOUT must remain flexible; (11) The battalion staff must constantly update maneuver commanders on the fluid friendly situation in urban terrain; (12) Commanders must constantly update their crews on rules of engagement (ROE) as the fight develops; (13) Commanders and platoon leaders should lead from the front of attack formation even when in file or column when fighting in urban terrain.
Lawson: Politica Sacra et Civilis
Preface Editor's introduction A note on the text Bibliographical guide Principal dates Epistle to the reader Dedicatory poem The arguments of the several chapters 1. Of government in general, and the original thereof 2. Of government in general, and of a community civil 3. Of an ecclesiastical community 4. Of a commonwealth in general, and power civil 5. Of the manner how civil power is acquired 6. Of power ecclesiastical 7. Of the manner of acquiring ecclesiastical power 8. Of the disposition of power civil, and the several forms of government 9. Of the disposition of ecclesiastical power: and first, whether it be due unto the Bishop of Rome 10. Whether the civil state have any good title to the Power of the Keys 11. Whether episcopacy be the primary subject of the Power of the Keys 12. Whether presbytery or presbyters be the primary subject of the Power of the Keys 13. That the government of the church is not purely democratical, but like that of a free state, wherein the power is in the whole, not in any part, which is the author's judgement 14. Of the extent of a particular church 15. Of subjection in general, and the subjects of a civil state 16. Of subjects in an ecclesiastical polity Biographical notes Index.