Greetings Economists, On Jun 28, 2007, at 6:49 AM, Louis Proyect wrote:
was required viewing and something of a teaching tool for radicalized Americans and revolutionary wannabes opposing the Vietnam War.
Doyle; Who knows why the major feels his two cents matters here. There are two parts here worth considering. The Battle of Algiers was the dramatized end of French colonial influence. Urban warfare showed how armies can't manage the political forces. This was a different lesson from Vietnam which was a peasant war following the usual battle to secure the country side and strangle the cities. So the officer thinks while sounding like he can move back and forth at will to support either side as a professional, 'revolutionary' circumstances will not allow that. going back and forth requires betrayal which Iraq allows because of the size of the conflict is not enough to threaten officers with consequences. But should the stakes arise taking a stand one or the other way is not so easy to follow the blowing wind. Doyle
