supply and demand

This week, General Stanley A. McChrystal published counterinsurgency guidance to his forces in Afghanistan. He challenges his command to “Think of counterinsurgency as an argument to earn support of the people” (p. 3). That central statement has generated excellent debate already.

His guidance outlines some good examples of how to win that debate. It’s compelling reading and reflects the commander’s recent planning summit work. It must be required reading for the insurgents, as well.

But I wonder in the midst of this reading…who is funding the insurgents? How are they supported? Who’s providing their data services to allow them to read the General’s document? What are the supply routes? Who’s training these tenacious fighters? Is this training occurring overseas? Do they have foreign, experienced cadre like Chechen and Hamas veterans in their midst? Most of these questions are logistical, addressing supply.

We know the demand is there. From where and from whom do the supplies come?