A milblogger in Iraq offers his thoughts on the military’s recruiting problems and invites feedback and alternative solutions. An excerpt:

Frankly speaking the reason we need such a large force right now boils down to poor intelligence gathering. The nation’s HUMINT system is dilapidated and the entire intelligence community is hamstrung by ridiculous restriction like Jamie Gorelick’s wall. Furthermore SIGINT efforts are constricted due to a combination of antiquated collection theories (based on Cold War strategies but sans the Cold War chokepoints) and outlandish estimations of collection capabilities.

If the intelligence picture of Iraq had been more complete the former regime elements who jumpstarted the insurgency would have been captured or killed within days or weeks of the fall of Baghdad largely obviating the need for extensive occupation forces. More extensive intelligence would also result in a smoother occupation by zeroing in on insurgents before they can carry an attack plan to fruition. Success against asymmetrical forces depends more heavily on intelligence indications by an order of magnitude than conventional warfare operations do.

This is a very tall order I know but it is vital to the future success of the nation. Only a combination of reforms can turn this ship around before it bottoms out on a Hollow Force sandbar with disastrous consequences.

The bloggers asks: “What is your answer?”

I know y’all will respond.