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Western Influence on Arab Militaries: Pounding Square Pegs into Round Roles
(GLORIA Center-IDC Herzliya) Norvell B. DeAtkine - The demonstrated ineffectiveness of Arab armies in conventional warfare does not apply to the parameters of unconventional warfare, where insurgents displayed initiative and imagination. A number of factors account for this difference. The Arab guerilla usually had leadership sharpened by battle as well as experience and exuded the confidence that motivated others to follow him - as opposed to a conventional unit commander most likely picked by the regime for political reasons. Moreover, the Arab guerilla was apt to be with those of his own ethnic group, clan, or tribe. The unconventional Arab soldier is fighting within his element with people he trusts. The malaise within the Arab culture requires solutions from within, and attempts to graft Western culture onto Arab society have failed. Some have seen the reserved response of the militaries in Tunisia and Egypt toward demonstrators as a consequence of U.S. and Western influence. Unfortunately this has little validity. It was far more a result of military leaders correctly assessing where their best interests lie. Imparting Western values and soldierly ethos to the Arab armies has been, as someone once observed, like teaching dance steps without the music. They memorize the steps but never get the tempo or the rhythm of Western military traditions. U.S. Army Col. Norvell B. DeAtkine, an Arab specialist, was Director of Middle East Studies at the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School. He has dealt with Arab militaries for over 40 years.