Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Summer Wine]

Some of you might find this an interesting read.

Quote:

Something mysterious is going on inside the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD). Over the past 2 years, senior leaders have been calling for something unusual and unexpected-cultural knowledge of the adversary. In august 2004, retired Major General Robert H. Scales, Jr., wrote an article for the Naval War College's Proceedings magazine that opposed the commonly held view within the U.S. military that success in war is best achieved by overwhelming technological advantage. Scales argues that the type of conflict we are now witnessing in Iraq requires "an exceptional ability to understand people, their culture, and their motivation." 1 In October 2004, Arthur Cebrowski, Director of the Office of Force Transformation, concluded that "knowledge of one's enemy and his culture and society may be more important than knowledge of his order of battle."

http://www.army.mil/professionalwriting/volumes/volume3/august_2005/7_05_2.html

[df1983]

This reminds me of what the military did in the 40's when we were at war with Japan. When I was an Anthropology undergrad we talked about the ethics involved with these practices by the US govt. I don't think Anthropology should be used as a war tactic. In fact, anyone who would engage in these types of practices would never be taken seriosly in the academic environment and would probably never be hired by a university.

[fermentation]

Not sure how this relates to living in Korea but yes, knowledge of the enemy (or the perceived enemy)'s culture, thinking, and goals are an important part of military planning. I thought everybody knew that.