Why Reconnaissance?

A common military axiom states that  an army, no matter how big, that can’t rely on good reconnaissance (“recon” in brief) is basically just a helpless blind giant. It can’t know where the enemy is, what kind of terrain lies beyond the next hill, if the road ahead is secure or if it’s the site of an ambush, and so on. Without proper info, the army will find itself outclassed by even a smaller enemy and, ultimately, defeated.

In sports recon is often called “scouting” and is a vital part of a team organization. Good scouting gives hints about the opponent so the proper game tactic can be prepared; it gives information on potential new players to draft or acquire from other teams in free agency. Without it a team is unlikely to win much.

Diplomatically, having a good knowledge of the problem to be dealt with allows for foreplanning that might help in finding a good solution. Without a good report on what to expect, a negotiator is left to guess blindly, and might lose opportunities or misunderstand the real issues behind the problem. Good “recon” on the situation is therefore required.

The Middle East is a place where political, economic, military and religious issues mesh to form one of the most complex regions in the world. Even when solutions appear to be at hand, new problems arise from unexpected angles. Usually this is due to the inability of decision-makers to understand all facets in front of them, thus coming up with options that do not take into account all elements in play. The same is to be said of the common people who look at the region from abroad: media usually avoid deep analyses and give few insight on the issues, with the result of failing to show why certain decisions are taken or what repercussions some options might have.

In both cases, what is missing is good reconnaissance. Doing recon work doesn’t involve just recording news, events and possibilities, but also means providing reports that explain the hows and whys of what is analyzed. Recon teams do not just look at things, they have to see them for what they really are, in order to provide the most accurate information.

My goal is to be that kind of recon team and give insightful reports to my readers, hoping they can find them useful.