Letter: Concern that Iran attack lacked important preparation
As a former career soldier, I believe our current engagement in Iran is a mistake that is already having worldwide repercussions. Yes, the leadership there is threatening to its citizens and the region. But now that we have rightly or wrongly decided to “do something” and use our military to “do something,” the changing news each day makes me question the planning and execution.
For years, we and our allies have used the “Five Paragraph Field Order.” It requires leaders at all levels to address :
1. Situation: who is the enemy; what are its capabilities, its defenses, weapons?
2. Mission: what are we trying to accomplish? The Who, What Where, When, Why.
3. Execution: How will we carry out the mission? What units, weapons, targets?
4. Administration and Logistics: commonly referred to as beans, bullets, bandages, etc.
5. Command and Signal: Who is in charge at each level; where are they? How do they communicate?
Did our leaders ask and answer, for example, are the Iranian forces likely to block the Strait of Hormuz? Might they launch attacks on our nearby allies? If so, what kinds of attacks and weapons? Did they ask and answer how long will this last and do we have enough of the right troops, weapons, ammo?
From the news reports on the right and left, I see little evidence that we did the thinking and planning required by the simple five paragraph field order.
Ken Freimuth
Ogden