"Anthropologizing the Military"

The Army is enlisting cultural anthropologists in the war in Afghanistan with the thinking that "understand[ing] subtle points of tribal relations" could allow the army to combat the Taliban more easily. Winning hearts and minds by understanding how the people feel and think? How quaint. And yet it seems to be working; "the unit’s combat operations had been reduced by 60 percent since the scientists arrived in February". Perhaps something else considered quaint could also be effective. (*cough*cough* Geneva Conventions)