Disregard academic critiques of the new COIN manual

Doctrine is collaborative and basically an effort in consensus-building within an institution for practices that some members are already using (or rejecting). Academic writing for peer review is about delivering information to a guild-like community through prescribed forms and standards, mostly by individuals or very small groups. Not the same thing.

Military doctrinal writing that tries really be peer review will not be of much use to 18 year old recruits. Or their commanding officers. Or often, the civilian policy makers. The COIN manual paid attention to the substance of Anthropology, a novelty in itself, but not to Anthropology's weird, little, professional fetishes prized by bearded dudes who have cubicle offices on campus.

Highlighted by TransTracker