Rather it is based on experience. Knowing about places, is very different from understanding the realities on the ground, the root causes of the conflict and the impact of foriegn "experts" who come in.
An example for those "many cases where people don't see what is going on due to being too close"? Back up your comments with facts. I know I can. The reason I ask is because the practice of the DPKO and NATO forces on the ground in conflict areas follow a completely different practice.
The national staff who works in these environs are our strongest assets because they understand the situations far more intricately than foriegners sitting comfy in the west do.
don't know why you find it difficult to agree on the 'too close to see the facts". When you live in a strife torn place you cannot be objective about the strife. For example, the youth in taleban infested areas join them in spite of seeing the damage cause by the taleban - wheras from a distant others could see the true nature of things.
Locals can provide facts and data - that doesn't translate to objective analysis and understanding.
It is not one or the other however