USG RFI for "metrics" on the 'terror war'

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Richard Forno <rforno () infowarrior org>
Date: October 4, 2005 2:45:23 PM EDT
To: Infowarrior List <infowarrior () g2-forward org>
Cc: Dave Farber <dave () farber net>
Subject: USG RFI for "metrics" on the 'terror war'



While I'm all for knowing how to measure one's effectiveness, I fear  
that
such "metrics" will be nothing more than a rehash of Vietnam-era body  
count
tallies as the "measure of success" in the 'war' to make juicy and
positive-sounding quotes for the current iteration of the Five O'Clock
Follies.

This, coupled with the continuing belief that a conventional high- 
tech army
can defeat a low-tech insurgency (something that has not happened in  
Western
history to my knowledge) only reinforces my sense that the USG is not
learning from history but rather repeating it.

The fact that a contractor is being asked to develop these "metrics"  
speaks
volumes, IMHO.  You'd think this would be something they'd have come  
up with
BEFORE launching into the 'war' on terror, right?

-rick

<snip>


> The Contractor shall develop, in conjunction with the Joint Staff,  
> OSD,
> Combatant and Unified Commands, Services and designated Agencies
> (stakeholders) a system of metrics to accurately assess US progress  
> in the War
> on Terrorism, identify critical issues hindering progress and  
> develop and
> track action plans to resolve the issues identified. In this  
> effort, the
> contractor shall work as an independent contractor not subject to the
> supervision and control of the Government. All deliverables become the
> property of the US Government.


Source document:
http://blogs.washingtonpost.com/earlywarning/files/ 
WarOnTerrorismMetrics.doc





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