Most combat military units, like the 4th Infantry Division heading to Iraq , are conducting exercises to prepare the troops for combat against the insurgents. This scenario-based training is designed to make soldiers think about how they can overcome barriers and succeed in combat. A Chinese proverb — ?to do is to understand? — sums up the experience that the military hopes the troops will gain by conducting urban warfare exercises. By having military units conduct urban warfare exercises, it allows the troops to make mistakes in a sterile environment and learn lessons before there are real life consequences.

While these exercises are designed with combat objectives, the military must not forget to teach soldiers to have a better understanding of the enemy they will fight. Not only do they need to understand their enemy, but they also need to understand the Iraqi environment in which poor decisions can have a long lasting impact on the mission of any unit. Teaching soldiers about cultural sensitivities can win over the local population instead of having them actively or passively support insurgents. Soldiers also need to have an understanding of the terrorist mindset in order to defeat them.