Lt. Col. Scott Mann: A Warrior Story Teller | Special Forces, Author, Speaker: LAST OUT

Toro tyaro pase rana razi – After every darkness, there is light.

PASHTO PROVERB

Warrior Story Teller:

Lt. Col. Scott Mann, Green Beret, 7th Group, Special Forces (ret.)

Scott Mann is an overachiever. Scott’s life and work have included armed service to serve our nation, as a green beret from 7th Group, special forces. He is a husband, father, veteran, and an advocate. He has become a congressional witness, a published author, a keynote speaker, a ‘Ted Talker’ an actor, and I count him among my friends.

Scott Mann, in my opinion, exemplifies what national service and service to community is all about. One of America’s grateful son’s, he volunteered to serve his nation, qualified for special forces, earned his green beret, and embodies the warrior ethos and spirit of special forces. He is a warrior, sent to free oppressed people.

Warriors of Afghanistan

De Oppresso Liber

To Free the Oppressed

De Oppresso Liber

US Special Forces

Da sabar miwa khwaga wi 

The fruit of patience is sweet.

Pashto Proverb

There is a reason that Afghanistan is called the graveyard of empires, it hard to reach, hard to stay put once you get there, and seemingly nearly impossible to conquer. People have been fighting in this region for generations, and the people understand in an asymmetric fight, against a modern enemy, of greater sophistication, and power, time is their enemy. For every: truck, troop carrier, tank, or Humvee, you need spare parts, drivers, mechanics, clerks, gasoline, and all the others who support soldiers, software and hardware . They also need; food, water, lodging and protection.

The west likes decisive actions and it is often said of the east they like the long game. To reduce their enemies advantage by patiently waiting them out, this is a way of life in Afghanistan. This concept harkens back to medieval, siege warfare tactics and the concept is still kept alive.

You will have your work cut out for you if you try to out-suffer an Afghan warrior. They carve out life in places most can’t and they face hardship daily as part of normal life. There is an inherent problem using a hearts and minds counter insurgency strategy in Afghanistan. These people know the rules of war, how to evade and avoid capture, and how to wait their enemies out in their own homes.

The Taliban live in Afghanistan, they can hide in plain site, They may even take a job to serve their enemy by day as they menace them at night. Eventually all the other armies have grew restless to get back home to their way of life, to free themselves from the hardships of war.

Andrew J Walker

A Guy Who Knew How to Build a Wall

Julius Cesar

There was a famously mighty army, who had a well fortified, modern castle. As the future leader of the Roman Empire approached it, as a Roman general, he saw the challenge before him. His enemy saw their castle as an asset. It kept them safe from the greater technological advantages of the Roman Army. Cesar had other ideas and re-framed the dynamics by turning the tables on his enemy.

Using a simple but effective creative tactic he won the battle that decided the war. He built a wall and countered their plans to wall out the Romans. Using a creative new tactic, he strategically walled the whole castle complex. At no time could they reach the Romans with archers as they toiled. The Romans tried conventional methods and failed to breach the walls. They then erected a log wall and rampart from the surrounding forest. Day after day they labored. Until one day, the castle keeping Cesar’s enemies safe, became no more than a gilded cage. The castle had become a trap for helpless hostages. Julius Cesar turned the tables on old strategy using new tactics. Cesar saw before him a virtually impenetrable castle. He tried conventional methods to get in and failed. He thought of an unconventional solution to the wall keeping him out. He built a wall that kept them in.

The conquered king saw a large army. The army needed food, water, lodging, and logistical support. He saw this as an opportunity to use the strength of his castle walls. He planned to wait them out. He aimed to force them to capitulate and go back home. Game and other food was abundant. Resources were supplied by nature to support Cesar’s army. By building his own wall, Cesar won that battle without shedding more of his soldiers’ blood. The King capitulated. Cesar conquered the region. This added to the acclaim that would launch him to power as emperor later.

The Taliban used the opposite approach, they used that same old strategy. against our modern technology, strategies and tactics. Can the Taliban hold their own in a fire-fight? Absolutely. But can they defend themselves against modern armies with communications, command and control, practicing combined arms, strategy and tactics? Yes and no.

If they attempted to fight the United States armed forces head-to-head, they would not prevail under almost every circumstance. The coordination, communication and combination, of superior modern arms, strategy, tactics and technology, win the day, virtually all the time. They used the same old medieval siege mentality. They retreated inside their own ‘castle walls.’ They waited for the enemy to tire of their county and go back home.

It is been said, upon study, the Taliban in many cases were fighting just miles from their homes. They have home field advantage. They learned using the rules of modern warfare, rules of engagement, and western army’s code of ethics. This allowed them to find safe havens at home. In some cases, these havens were in the employment of the enemy army. They even found other sympathetic countries, like Pakistan.

Our enemies could transit these areas as in Vietnam with the use of the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The trail snaked through the neutral bordering territory of Cambodia. They do this in relative safety. The Taliban fighters would similarly move through sympathetic tribal areas, controlled by the Haqqani Network. Thus allowing Taliban safe passage into and out of Pakistan. This avoided attack and capture. Most importantly, it allowed them to rearm, regroup, and stage attacks against Americans and our Afghan allies. As Pakistan is an ally of the United States, warfighting in their territory was never permitted.

Upon Being Asked for a War Poem
"I think it better that in times like these
A poet's mouth be silent, for in truth
We have no gift to set a statesman right;
He has had enough of meddling who can please
A young girl in the indolence of her youth,
Or an old man upon a winter’s night".
WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS

Moral Injury