http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/militaries_less_successful_at_difficult_tasks_than_easy_ones/ Online Journal of Politics and Foreign Affairs Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:12:43 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/militaries_less_successful_at_difficult_tasks_than_easy_ones/comment-page-1/#comment-111121 LJD Tue, 30 Jan 2007 12:20:19 +0000 http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/2007/01/militaries_less_successful_at_difficult_tasks_than_easy_ones/#comment-111121 In other news, governments are bad at ALL tasks- difficult or easy. In other news, governments are bad at ALL tasks- difficult or easy.

]]> http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/militaries_less_successful_at_difficult_tasks_than_easy_ones/comment-page-1/#comment-111068 yetanotherjohn Mon, 29 Jan 2007 19:45:01 +0000 http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/2007/01/militaries_less_successful_at_difficult_tasks_than_easy_ones/#comment-111068 There is some truth to the idea that hammers make lousy screw drivers. And trying to use a hammer as a screw driver is not likely to yield success. But hammers make great hammers. They are very good at smashing things. A case can be made that our biggest successes in getting "cooperation" rather than "submission" came after we used the hammer to thoroughly smash the other side. When you don't smash the other side to the point that 'anything would be better than this', then you haven't used the hammer to its fullest potential. That may be appropriate at times, but it can also lead you to trying to trying to screw together bolts with your hammer. There is some truth to the idea that hammers make lousy screw drivers. And trying to use a hammer as a screw driver is not likely to yield success. But hammers make great hammers. They are very good at smashing things. A case can be made that our biggest successes in getting "cooperation" rather than "submission" came after we used the hammer to thoroughly smash the other side. When you don't smash the other side to the point that 'anything would be better than this', then you haven't used the hammer to its fullest potential. That may be appropriate at times, but it can also lead you to trying to trying to screw together bolts with your hammer.

]]> http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/militaries_less_successful_at_difficult_tasks_than_easy_ones/comment-page-1/#comment-111058 charles austin Mon, 29 Jan 2007 18:48:46 +0000 http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/2007/01/militaries_less_successful_at_difficult_tasks_than_easy_ones/#comment-111058 I think the old anology of using a hammer to fix every problem is most apt here. Hammers do make lousy screwdrivers. I think the old anology of using a hammer to fix every problem is most apt here. Hammers do make lousy screwdrivers.

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