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Maintaining a competent military organization is a challenge for wealthy nations, even in times of relative peace. Bureaucrats and politicians hijack budgets as politically connected officers wrangle promotions at the expense of creative, forward-thinking war-fighters. War reveals the organizational corruption, stagnation and decay, and this institutional decline exacts a stiff price in soldiers' sweat and blood.
The "rich man's security challenge," however, pales when compared to the multidimensional security problems of the impoverished, fractured and terrorized. Afghanistan is a pertinent case, but only one of many on the planet. Africa has at least a score of different-yet-similar situations -- the different...
Building an Army Under Fire
Another is the way we are raised. Our kids are brought up to know and accept things like electronics and even mechanics that their people don't. Years ago, the US gave Saudi a battalion of tanks. Their soldiers got into them and roared into the desert. The last I heard, they were still in the desert since none realized you had to refuel them. Our young going into the service would never make this mistake. Much of the military equipment now is electronic: radios, missile sights, even infantry equipment. Raised with video games and computers, our people accept and learn quickly. Their people...