Comments on: Army Views “Civil Affairs” Operations http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2007/07/army_views_civil_affairs_opera.html Secrecy News from the FAS Project on Government Secrecy Thu, 24 May 2012 10:04:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: AJF http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2007/07/army_views_civil_affairs_opera.html/comment-page-1#comment-846 AJF Fri, 20 Jul 2007 01:21:44 +0000 http://fasweb.beacontec.com/blog/secrecy/2007/07/army_views_civil_affairs_operations.html#comment-846 Steven, I read with interest your discourse on "Civil Affairs." Civil Affairs was invented in WW II. They were the guys who followed the combat units that were uncovering towns and cities in Europe, where Nazis and Nazi sympathizers were fleeing. They restored civil functions (Police, Administration, fire services, electricity, sewage, and public works, amongst other functions). The same was done when we conquered islands in the Pacific during WW II. The successful occupation in Japan was facilitated by Civil Affairs Units. When I served with the U.S. Army Special Forces in the 1960's, we never deployed without Civil Affairs Officers, to Vietnam, to Laos or other destinations. When our military was running roughshod over Iraqi units, which I was watching on TV with my wife, my main question was "Where are the Civil Affairs Units?" When our troops were uncovering towns, villages and cities, with the Baathists fleeing, there was no one to take charge except for the Mosque. Where were our Civil Affairs Units? I could go on and on about our mistakes in Iraq, but suffice it to say, Civil Affairs is being treated now as an integral part of our Special Operations forces, in organization and function. Steven,

I read with interest your discourse on “Civil Affairs.” Civil Affairs was invented in WW II. They were the guys who followed the combat units that were uncovering towns and cities in Europe, where Nazis and Nazi sympathizers were fleeing. They restored civil functions (Police, Administration, fire services, electricity, sewage, and public works, amongst other functions). The same was done when we conquered islands in the Pacific during WW II. The successful occupation in Japan was facilitated by Civil Affairs Units.

When I served with the U.S. Army Special Forces in the 1960′s, we never deployed without Civil Affairs Officers, to Vietnam, to Laos or other destinations.

When our military was running roughshod over Iraqi units, which I was watching on TV with my wife, my main question was “Where are the Civil Affairs Units?” When our troops were uncovering towns, villages and cities, with the Baathists fleeing, there was no one to take charge except for the Mosque. Where were our Civil Affairs Units?

I could go on and on about our mistakes in Iraq, but suffice it to say, Civil Affairs is being treated now as an integral part of our Special Operations forces, in organization and function.

]]> By: William J. Neill http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2007/07/army_views_civil_affairs_opera.html/comment-page-1#comment-845 William J. Neill Thu, 19 Jul 2007 18:07:38 +0000 http://fasweb.beacontec.com/blog/secrecy/2007/07/army_views_civil_affairs_operations.html#comment-845 Civil affairs was once known as military government and is very important to the support of combat operations as well as restoration of whatever a "normal" life might be once combat operations have passed through an area. The most salient point to be stated is that when combat operations move beyond a habitated area, a political and sociological vacuum results. If that vacuum is not immediately filled, terrible things can happen. Historically, the most prominent examples of the prompt and proper execution of military government operations can be found in Germany and Austria by the US and UK governments prior to and following May 8, 1945, as well as in Japan following the formal surrender of that nation on Sept. 8, 1945. Many details can be offered to demonstrate both the stabilizing and rehabilitative effects of military government operations in Europe and Japan following the end of WWII. I have a very, very large collection of original papers, documents, and publications to provide substantiation to the benefits of forethought and cultural knowledge in the conduct of military government operations. What is remarkable at this moment in history is that the United States has an administration that is either profoundly intellectually challenged or too self-assured to be bothered by the lessons of history. And what the world now witnesses in Iraq is the consequence. Civil affairs was once known as military government and is very important to the support of combat operations as well as restoration of whatever a “normal” life might be once combat operations have passed through an area.

The most salient point to be stated is that when combat operations move beyond a habitated area, a political and sociological vacuum results. If that vacuum is not immediately filled, terrible things can happen.

Historically, the most prominent examples of the prompt and proper execution of military government operations can be found in Germany and Austria by the US and UK governments prior to and following May 8, 1945, as well as in Japan following the formal surrender of that nation on Sept. 8, 1945.

Many details can be offered to demonstrate both the stabilizing and rehabilitative effects of military government operations in Europe and Japan following the end of WWII. I have a very, very large collection of original papers, documents, and publications to provide substantiation to the benefits of forethought and cultural knowledge in the conduct of military government operations.

What is remarkable at this moment in history is that the United States has an administration that is either profoundly intellectually challenged or too self-assured to be bothered by the lessons of history. And what the world now witnesses in Iraq is the consequence.

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