Our lead article this month, "How to Win in Iraq," by Terence Daly, is among the most important pieces published in Proceedings this year. Victory, the author argues, can be achieved only by employing classic counterguerrilla skills. "No modern army using conventional tactics has ever defeated an insurgency," he maintains. Lieutenant Colonel Daly doesn't stop with an analysis of the problem. He goes on to set out the steps that need to be taken to implement the strategy he says is required. The piece weaves together themes that have emerged with increasing frequency in recent months. These include Army Lieutenant General David Barno"s address to the Naval Institute's Joint Warfare Atlantic Exposition and Symposium in Virginia Beach in October and Marine Major Phil Zeman's stellar "Goat-Grab Diplomacy in Iraq" article in last month's Proceedings.
Navy Captain James Pelkofski's "Before the Storm: al Qaeda's Coming Maritime Campaign," which complements the Daly article, contains a warning: Don't be seduced into complacency by the small number of waterborne attacks by terrorists. They are planning and training for more and bigger ones.
Navy doctor Joseph Rappold has a warning of his own in "Navy Medicine: In Critical Condition." Think of it as a shot across the bow.
Vice Admiral Jim Stavridis, a contributor since his midshipman days, is looking for officers willing to embrace the change that is already upon us. His piece, "Deconstructing War," reflects the considerable thought that goes into all his work. In "The Wellsprings of Transformation," Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Brian Hanley insists that transformation of U.S. forces will come to naught unless the services nurture those individuals within their ranks who possess operational experience, intellectual discipline, and a scholarly approach to problem-solving.
Our focus this month is on training—simulation and otherwise. We've put together a package that goes from the very latest in military medical technology and augmented reality fire-fighting training to the problems that plague expeditionary sailors trying to talk to folks beyond the high-water line using incompatible radios.
There have been some changes here at Proceedings. Paul Merzlak, formerly Senior Editor, has been promoted to Managing Editor, taking over from Mac Greeley. We conducted an extensive search prior to filling the position, eventually realized the best candidate for the job was sitting a few doors down. Paul spent ten years as an Air Force officer, teaching military and European history to cadets in Colorado Springs and performing some mysterious job underground in Wyoming that you don't want to know about.
The Senior Editor post that Paul is vacating has been filled by someone familiar to our readers, Fred Schultz. Fred was editor-in-chief of our sister publication, Naval History, for a dozen years before moving on in April. Now he's back with the organization he loves and to which he has made contributions few can match.
Karen Eskew has gone. After running our production and design operation for three years, Karen has taken a job that works better for her, personally and professionally. Karen may have been our one bona fide genius. With a smile that disarmed everyone within 300 feet, Karen provided an unflappable demeanor in those tense hours before deadline when the clock threatened to crush us all. Karen's talent for layout and design infused life into our best articles and provided a visual pick-me-up for the occasional piece that needed help. And when we wanted to change things at the last moment, she invariably flashed that killer smile and said, "Okay, we can do that."
Then there is Mac Greeley, who is the hardest for me to write about. Mac is the son and grandson of West Pointers, and a Woop himself. Upon graduation, he became a Marine pilot and had a long, distinguished career in the Corps. He had been a senior editor at Proceedings some years ago. Though I barely knew him except by reputation, I asked Mac to come back temporarily during the awkward transition period last April when there was a complete turnover of the Proceedings staff. He agreed. We both figured a month would probably do it. It's now been eight months. Mac tried, at first subtly, then more emphatically, finally with no give in his voice, to convince me that it was time for him to go. Mac has been working on a book about the West, Old and New, for some time, and he wanted to saddle up again and continue his writing and research. I spent months in denial, finally accepted that he was serious.
Over the eight months that I have been privileged to have Mac as my number two, I have learned from him, laughed with him, on occasion been scolded by him. He has stepped in when things threatened to get the better of me, whether a thorny editorial matter or a cell phone that I couldn't get to stop vibrating.
Eight months. Not long to make an old friend. Semper Fi, Mac. Happy Trails.
Editor's Page
By Robert Timberg