http://www.unprecedentedmediocrity.com/marvin-the-arvn-and-the-iraqi-army/
From my facebook feed this morning. The parallels are striking.
I have said before, in the mid east either go full Empire (roman style) or GTFO. Half measures are doomed to failure.
In a single word: Insh'allah.
It's not up to Hadji to do something to make it happen because if Allah wills it it will happen regardless of what Hadji does or does not do. Goes to the question "Why can't Hadji aim?"
Couple that with the mindset that saying you will do X is the same as actually doing X.
And then add tribalism. Hadji will do (within the perameters above) what some infidel tells him top do because his tribal leader told him to. But put some joker from another tribe up front and pretty much everything grinds to a halt.
The linked article fails to take into account that basic training focuses more on turning civilians into members of a cohesive unit than on learning actual skills. Close order drill is not necessary for moving a herd from point A to point B unless you want them to look pretty while doing it. But it does instill the habit of everybody doing the same thing at the same time in the same way. Von Stuben was not all that keen on fighting the British line against line as he was in breaking the individualism of the rebels so that there was only one person in charge.
"Their" Iraqis have a cause and a purpose that involves not just waiting around for Allah to get something done but to bring it about sooner rather than later - all for the greater glory of Allah.
About the only thing I'm not sure about is if Hadji is dropping his rifle or not. Marvin knew he could run faster and bl;end back in as a peasant without the M-16. I'm thinking that possession of an AK, whether or not in the military, is a pretty common thing and a sign of status, thus worth holding on to while you are running away.
Please punch holes it what you think needs having holes punched in.
stay safe.
