Sunday 090329
Six Rounds:
30 seconds Punch Press, 50/35 lbs
30 seconds Lunges
30 seconds Squat Thrusts
30 seconds Rest
Post total reps to comments.
______________________________________
Sunday Discussion on PCF.com:
Combat and Community – David Brooks
Anatomy of a Tribal Revolt – David Kilcullen
Post thoughts to comments.
36 comments for this entry:
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March 28th, 2009 on 9:29 pm
I feel like there are few, if any, journalists or writers out there that truly understand how the top down approach to the Iraq War employed by Sec. Rumsfeld/Amb. Bremer/Gen. Casey caused our near defeat.
During their tenure, they focused exclusively on the Iraqi Army and National Government with little attention paid to local tribal leaders and local government. They coupled this with consolidating troops on “Mega-FOBs” in order to limit casualties, which had the exact opposite effect.
The focus on getting things straight with the federal government and ignoring local structures led to a similar phenomenon that we’re seeing with the current economic crisis: individuals doing nothing and waiting to see what action the federal government will take.
Casey’s drive to shift responsibility to the Iraqi National Army and pull troops “out of harms way” onto FOBs ended up killing more troops because very simply: if you don’t patrol it, you don’t own it.
While Sheik Abdul Sattar al Rishawi and Gen Petraeus had a lot to do with pushing Al Qaeda out of Iraq and turning the Al Anbaris towards cooperating with US Forces (and Sattar had significantly more impact that Patraeus), I truly hope that some writer/journalist/blogger/historian figures out that we were just very very lucky. But in my opinion, since most journalists rely on politicians and bureaucrats for their information, they must endear themselves to those same figures in order to keep the information flowing. Hence the “Team Petraeus v. Team Odierno v. Team First Cav v. Team AEI v. Team White House” clap trap that comes from various news outlets (and that Abu Muqawama has been so good at identifying and deriding, http://abumuqawama.blogspot.com/2009/02/gamble-winners-and-losers.html) and this ridiculous focus on “The Surge” as the key moment in Iraq’s history (See Frontline: Endgame, http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/endgame/view/).
It’s disappointing that David Brooks misses this point so badly in his Op-Ed. There’s no tie-in to lessons learned from Iraq and especially Al Anbar, at least by him. I’m sure it’s obvious to most commanders in Afghanistan though, that there is no “National Fight” in a counterinsurgency, there is only, as Gen. Krulak called it, the “Three Block War”. Except that in this case, rather than in Krulak’s vision, one must treat every three blocks as it’s own nation, responsible for the security (and hence commerce) of those three blocks alone. So Brooks hedging of “The program is controversial. Many feel it will lead to a return to local militias and warlordism” is simply his sources trying to cover their asses if things go bad (meaning bad press coverage).
I worry about Afghanistan though because these lessons have not been learned by anyone but those who have served in ground combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. Certainly not anyone on Pres. Obama’s National Security Team, including most of the military senior leadership, who’s vows to “fix Afghanistan” can and should be seen for what they are: a political party completely inept at defense matters trying to gain votes and a White House who is supremely confident that “doing something” is always the answer, and that while they have no idea what that answer is, they will find it when the news cycle demands it.
Moreover, because the Obama White House seems to believe that from the federal government, all blessings and goodness comes, I see them putting someone in charge of CENTCOM following Patreaus who is more Casey-like and will balance the positive aspects of on the ground experience that we are currently seeing in Afghanistan and potentially cripple our ability to fight that war.
March 28th, 2009 on 9:43 pm
I come to CrossFit to get away from politics.
March 28th, 2009 on 9:47 pm
Oh, thanks for everybody who came out to the Happy Hour last night. Hopefully somebody caught it on video, because that robot dance was the best I’ve ever done, period.
March 28th, 2009 on 10:08 pm
?
March 29th, 2009 on 8:09 am
Aaahhhh!!! I can’t believe I missed that!! And Jen taking off her clothes…never will I miss a CrossFit happy hour again.
March 29th, 2009 on 8:23 am
I missed you too Emma! Next time!
March 29th, 2009 on 10:48 am
Six Rounds:
30 seconds Punch Press 35 lbs
30 seconds Lunges
30 seconds Squat Thrusts
30 seconds Rest
284
No more lunges!
March 29th, 2009 on 11:05 am
247 (53# KBs)
Last set I was down to about 8 reps on the Punch Press.
BTW, the kettlebell press is so much cooler when we call it the “Punch Press”
March 29th, 2009 on 11:20 am
Six Rounds:
30 seconds Punch Press 15 lbs
30 seconds Lunges
30 seconds Squat Thrusts
30 seconds Rest
216
I was definitely consistent – 36 each round. I think I probably could have done 20 lbs, though. Next time.
March 29th, 2009 on 11:46 am
266 (35lb kettlebells)
Massive degradation from 50(first)to 40(last round)
March 29th, 2009 on 12:00 pm
Six Rounds:
30 seconds Punch Press 20 lbs
30 seconds Lunges
30 seconds Squat Thrusts
30 seconds Rest
273
March 29th, 2009 on 12:05 pm
Emma’s comment, seconded. Both of them.
March 29th, 2009 on 12:15 pm
I will be having my promotion ceremony to the rank of Lt Col on Wed, 1 Apr. I consider PCF’ers to be friends so this invite goes out to all. If you do plan on showing up for a drink on me, please rsvp (via the link below) so I know how much food to get. Traditionally you are supposed to put the amount of your first pay raise on the bar and I also believe in a little bit of tradition. Details are in the invite: https://einvitations.afit.edu/Heyer/
burpees are optional…
if you have any questions my email is vheyer77@gmail.com
March 29th, 2009 on 12:33 pm
as rx’d, 50# DB
272
March 29th, 2009 on 1:02 pm
NOT as rx’d 35# DB
233
Stop the lunges Jen!! Its hard to sit on a toilet
March 29th, 2009 on 1:03 pm
15# dumbells
283
March 29th, 2009 on 1:16 pm
Total: 263
20 lb kettlebells. (Should have tried 25 lbs)
Thanks to Drea and Jenn for organizing us for the Regional Qualifiers! Sounds like you have thought of everything. It will make my cheering so much easier-and more importantly- it’s really great for those competing.
March 29th, 2009 on 1:30 pm
First, I want to say that I agree with almost 100% of what Brian said, particularly that we were very lucky. I agree we were very lucky because we were lucky we did not have Dave Kilcullen, author of Anatomy of a Tribal Revolt directing any of our operations in Iraq.
Dave Kilcullen makes the same mistakes the majority of people do who have no experience working with an indigenious force or insurgency. And that simple mistake is putting a romantic, liberal spin on the importance of the local cultural, in this case the Ramadi tribes and Dave’s whole “tribal revolt”. Yes it sells books, it sounds inspiring, and in our political correct culture, it lets us adopt a position of understanding without the responsibility of a moral judgement.
There was no tribal revolt, no great cultural revolt as Dave describes. Culture actually played no part in it. Yes, Gen Petraeus knew we needed Sunni engagement. But it was not capitalizing on this great cultural swell. Shaykh Sattar, originally mentioned by Brian, was a smuggler by trade. He was a thief, a killer, and at the beginning of the war was actually on AQ’s side, purely for business.
What the Sunni Awakening was about, and what turned the tide of war, was simple money and power. There was a power/monetary vaccum in Ramadi at the time. Shaykh Sattar and his cohorts simply saw a business opportunity. They realized if they sided with the unlimited funds of the Americans, that we would make them rich and fund their accension to power. The Americans with their abilities to play kingmakers, would make them kings. And the reason the Americans gave them the money and power was because they were killing AQ. More dead AQ, more money. More dead AQ, more power. Before the war, Shaykh Sattar’s tribe was a minor player in regional politics. Almost a nothing. In the space of one year, he was on the front of the Washington Post shaking hands with President Bush. The Sunni Awakening was not a tribal uprising, it was just good business.
Culture is rarely the defining motivator, and at the end of the day its money that talks and money that walks. We simply paid better than AQ was paying.
The lesson to be learned from this, and what won Ramadi and Iraq writ large, was boots on the ground every three blocks, owning the battlespace, and simply making it more lucrative (in the form of money and power) to be on our side than to be on the bad guy’s side. There are very few true believers within AQ, most of their recruits come from poverty, with the promise of pay for them or their families.
To win Afghanistan you need to oversaturate the area with force, the biggest possible footprint, and through engagement (and by engagement I mean rewarding our allies with money and power and smashing our enemies with military might) of local leaders with similar objectives, let them restore security in their own manner and provide the necessary aid/infrastructure so that it pays better than being a terrorist. Money and Power are always the great motivators, comfort and security are great demotivators. I know when I am comfortable with my overpriced skim latte and IPhone that last thing i want to do is fight.
March 29th, 2009 on 1:56 pm
Aaaaaaaaaaand back to CrossFit….
6 rounds:
30 sec Punch Press,
30 sec lunge,
30 sec Squat Thrust
254 reps.
Then:
One rep max weighted pull-up – 23 pounds
Then:
800 m sprint
21 Bodyweight Deadlifts
800 m sprint
15 Bodyweight Deadlifts
800 m sprint
9 Bodyweight Deadlifts
15:47
March 29th, 2009 on 3:56 pm
250 as rx’d 50#DB.
First WOD since Monday having just got over a cold. Felt good.
March 29th, 2009 on 5:15 pm
If you have an aversion to politics in the comments section, you’re actually pretty safe to read your heart out today. They touch a little on politics, but the meat of the discussion is far from it, and they aren’t bashing political views. I could be wrong, but I just don’t see it.
IMO, there is no need to stymie anyone’s discussion, unless it’s a truly offensive topic, e.g., vegans, peace activists, global warming, firearms shortages, hybrid vehicles, and attempts to stymie someone’s discussion.
March 29th, 2009 on 5:24 pm
Six Rounds:
30 seconds Punch Press 30KB/20DB last 3
30 seconds Lunges
30 seconds Squat Thrusts
30 seconds Rest
#221
March 29th, 2009 on 5:42 pm
210 repetitions
25# kettlebells
March 29th, 2009 on 5:43 pm
296 w 35# db’s
March 29th, 2009 on 6:03 pm
[...] Jared PCF Sunday 090329 [...]
March 29th, 2009 on 6:08 pm
235
March 29th, 2009 on 6:28 pm
238
#45 x3
#35 x3
March 29th, 2009 on 6:32 pm
275
No way I could do 50lbs, so I started the punch press with 30lbs. Did 3 sets and had to drop down to 25lbs for the final 3 sets.
My legs are shot. I’m still super sore from the Friday WOD…
March 29th, 2009 on 7:07 pm
333…optimistically started with 53# KB for first two rounds but then dropped to 35# when I realized I was not going to get more than a few a round and so I wanted to focus on more repetitions. The indivdual rounds shot up from about 45-50 to 60 due to this.
March 29th, 2009 on 7:09 pm
Brian and Scott Q, your posts impress me. I don’t quite understand your comments yet – a little “over my head.” But I am going to re-read and keep trying to understand the content.
Thank you for your posts and forcing me to “think”.
March 29th, 2009 on 7:11 pm
PS Rob as Rx 290 Sheila as Rx 273
March 29th, 2009 on 7:18 pm
349 reps
Man, I was all well rested and zoned up. It was fantastic. Oh right, and then there was that 10# dumbell thing… That helped. Happy shoulders though, with 30 presses/rnd.
Thanks Dan for the intimate Sunday evening class (all 5 of us), to Brian and Scott for Sunday discussion that qualifies us as more than gym rats, and to Jen’s support of public nudity Friday night.
March 29th, 2009 on 7:52 pm
Six Rounds:
30 seconds Punch Press
30 seconds Lunges
30 seconds Squat Thrusts
30 seconds Rest
238 (35lb KB)
Crossfit Endurance WOD
C2 Rower — 5 min on/5 min off, 4 min on/4 min off, 3 min on/3 min off, 2 min on/2 min off, 1 min on for distance: 3360 meters
March 29th, 2009 on 8:01 pm
Six Rounds:
30 seconds Punch Press (scaled 1 pood KB)
30 seconds Lunges
30 seconds Squat Thrusts
30 seconds Rest
277
Good WOD to try and shake off some jet lag (flew in from west coast this morning). Sunday 6 p.m. was so intimate… it was virtually 1-on-1 training with Dan.
March 29th, 2009 on 8:08 pm
Six Rounds:
30 seconds Punch Press
30 seconds Lunges
30 seconds Squat Thrusts
30 seconds Rest
244 (35#x3, 15#x3)
March 29th, 2009 on 8:20 pm
WOD from Cleveland
30-20-10
SDHP – 65#
push ups
situps
6:30