(National Interest) Dov S. Zakheim - Kenneth Pollack, a respected veteran observer of Middle East political and military affairs, attempts to identify the underlying reasons for the general failure of Arab forces to achieve their military objectives in Armies of Sand: The Past, Present and Future of Arab Military Effectiveness. Pollack argues that "the greatest, most consistent and most persistent problem of Arab armed forces in battle since 1945 has been the poor performance of their junior officers....Arab tactical commanders regularly failed to demonstrate initiative, flexibility, creativity, independence of thought, an understanding of combined arms integration, or an appreciation for the benefits of maneuver in battle." The writer is a former U.S. Undersecretary of Defense.
2019-02-15 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive