How Different will the fight in Afghanistan be than was in Iraq?

[Heimdall]

Distributed ops will be much more prevalent. Small unit leaders will take the fore. The "strategic corporal" will be conducting the full spectrum of the 3-block war, living in Bing West's "The Village," and coordinating efforts to win the hearts and minds while having immediate access to very responsive and lethal precision fires.

[Neil Schuehle]

The central tenets of the "Three Block War" were a fundamental step in the right direction both institutionally as well as organizationally (at the unit and individual level) in terms of conceptualizing the diverse character of battlespace in which Marines operate. Truthfully though, we have seen the realization of the 'Faces' of war evolve to a greater degree than ever before into either a "One" block or "No" block ENGAGEMENT.

On one hand the distinction between "War" and "Engagement" more accurately reflects the bulk of the time spent in many of the tribal areas we see in Afghanistan, either with Elders over chai, or providing services to the local populace (preferably through partnered forces when possible).

Likewise the difference between "Three Blocks" and "One" or "None" is also more reflective of an environment where there often is no developed 'urban' zone, the one so often portrayed by cold war era MOUT facilities to illustrate the distinct "Three" blocks where one would conduct different tasks. The nature of engagement today is that it is not at all uncommon to perform a wide array of assignments, up to and including combat, from the very same spot.

[Banshee]

One major difference will be the ROE. My concern is that in the block where we are fighting vice engaging we will give up our major tactical advantage-combined arms. The recent experience of the Army platoon that was nearly over run illustrates the danger. I hate to quote the NY Times, but they had an interesting piece illustrating 2/8s experiences. It takes tremendous discipline not to pursue the IED bombers who flee into a village knowing it could cost you casualties later.
The second part of the article gives an excellent overview of the operating environment at the battalion level.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/18/magazine/18Afghanistan-t.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&sq=Stanley%20McChrystal&s t=nyt&scp=1&%2339;s%20Long%20War[/url]