My impression of Bob Gates is that the guy is a near total pragmatist, the ultimate results oriented guy. He does not follow ideology. He does not seem especially concerned about upsetting the senior brass. He asks officers to speak up and tell their superiors when they are wrong. He fires Generals for incompetence. He has inspired many to ask that he stay on with the next administration, whomever is elected. The following link is illustrative of this man’s intelligence.
Gates proposes Minerva project to get egghead input
This is brilliant on multiple levels. First, we are already using anthropology teams in Afghanistan. If you have never read on Afghanistan, it is a true tribal culture with a strong distrust of cental government. They make Grover Norquist look like a socialist. As an example, when you visit an Afghan village, they will often send out a fake team of elders/tribal leaders to negotiate. This is one way they have of protecting their real leaders. It is difficult for our soldiers to communicate with such an insular people. Hence, anthropologists to help us understand the culture. Gates wants to add to our capability in this arena. We face a number of future potential problem areas. It makes good sense to have a cultural handle on these areas.
Next, what better way to make bridges to academia than to include them? Many/most social scientists have a left wing bent, with a natural antipathy towards the government, especially the Defense Department of a right wing executive branch. How to co-opt such a group? “Hey guys. You are really smart and we need your help.” What Professor could resist? Let us not forget the influence of research money either. Petraeus went to Princeton. When it came time to write the new Army/Marine Field Manual on Counterinsurgency, he recruited Sewall from Harvard. Gates is now reaching out. For fifty million dollars, a pittance in our defense budget, Gates has started building a bridge to a group that has been underutilized and sometimes harmful in our defense efforts.
Steve
If you have never read on Afghanistan, it is a true tribal culture with a strong distrust of cental government. They make Grover Norquist look like a socialist.
I know a little from talking to an officer stationed there. I’m not sure about the Norquist analogy, but I’d suggest they make Al Capone look like a statesman skilled in consensus building.
Should you get interested Ghosts of Alexander is my current fav Afghanistan blog.
Steve