"Granularity and Fidelity for Effects-Based Targeting"

Fri, 06/05/2009 - 11:40am

I just have to post this lovely response by "GE" to my post yesterday on pivoting the narrative. This guy clearly has spent too much time around defense intellectuals.

I refuse to support ANY attempt to pivot the narrative unless the pivoter is willing to offer enough granularity and fidelity to truly allow the end-user some insight on the effects-based targeting it will foster. Otherwise, we're chasing our tail down a rabbit hole filled with self-licking ice cream cones.

We're dealing with a large delta and a steep learning curve here, so we need to get comfortable being uncomfortable, recognizing that the only constant in this environment is...change.

I believe that Clausewitz once said that Sun-Tzu once said that victory in one thousand battles will be complete only when we have swallowed the dominant paradigm wholesale and then made sure that we've all boarded the bus to Abilene!"

I think I must have been at the same conference as this guy.

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"I think I must have been at the same conference as this guy."

by rpm on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 1:40pm

More correctly, your swamp cooler is spitting mud and you have boarded the bus to Abilene with him.

Managing our pivot agreement (MOPA) to LBO

by Walking Wounded on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 7:05pm

I've been kicking similar ideas around the pilot house.

Figuring out why we all went charging off to phase line 'Abilene' , without anyone wanting to be there, is vital to understanding escalation of the Viet Nam-Iraq 'axis of free will' paradigm.

Barring that, our least bad option (LBO) is to synthesize an SEP strategy coupled with a pan geocentric gargle blaster ap. Sounds froody, but what good is it being President if you get all hung up on the Prime Directive, and aren't willing do all-in risk negation?

Tom, I'm going to throw this

by RDCLD on Tue, 06/09/2009 - 11:46am

Tom, I'm going to throw this against the wall and see if it sticks.

While GE makes a good point about the necessity for pivoter input with regard to effects-based targeting, I'd like to add one caveat: he doesn't address second- and third-order effects when the populace is clearly on the tipping point. He may have entered into analysis paralysis, and unless we seize and maintain the initiative to find a way to get him channelized back in to his OODA loop his entire theory may be a non-starter.

But it's your blog, Tom, so if you want a ham sandwich, you should get a ham sandwich.

Yup, it appears to be sticking

by gp on Tue, 06/09/2009 - 2:50pm

RDCLD,

Far be it from me to get into your rice bowl, but it does appear that you've quaffed the Kool-Aid and are operating at the Tip of the Spear. I would call in the brass but I wouldn't want to turn this into a Canine and Equine Extravaganza. Remember, incompetence always begins one level above you in the chain of command, and no else besides your Department is actually DOING anything here on the staff. The guys from higher-up are just way too close to the flagpole and don't have a clue..

BOTTOM LINE UP FRONT: Too many Chiefs, not enough Indians.

best,
gp

The excess of cliche,

by Laleh on Tue, 06/09/2009 - 4:21pm

The excess of cliche, fabulous meaninglessness, and jargon is just absolutely hilarious. Thanks everyone!