Lessons for a Long War: How America Can Win on New Battlefields - Hardcover

Donnelly, Thomas; Kagan, Frederick W.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0844743291 ISBN 13: 9780844743295

Publisher: AEI Press, 2010

Synopsis

As the guarantor of international security, the United States must commit to a long-term military presence in Iraq and Afghanistan. But what are the tools necessary to succeed on the new battlefields of the Long War? In this volume, a group of the foremost U.S. military officials and national security experts analyze the American experience in Iraq and Afghanistan thus far in order to map a way forward―not only for the military, but for diplomats, elected officials, and the American public.

Thomas Donnelly, Frederick W. Kagan, and their coauthors offer several core lessons for success in The Long War. They argue that decentralizing command is the key to efficient operations on an ever-changing battlefield; that air power is the unsung hero of counterinsurgency warfare; that public opinion can influence crucial military decisions; and that the military should minimize its role in domestic affairs. Finally, although the battlefields have changed over the last fifty years, the authors contend that America's long-held counterinsurgency strategy―to foster political support at home, employ diplomacy overseas, and extend military assistance to allies―remains effective.

The Long War will not soon be over. But, in the words of retired Army special forces officer Colonel Robert Killebrew, the United States already has "the tools it needs in order to prevail in the wars of the twenty-first century."

About this title

About the Author

Thomas Donnelly is a resident fellow in defense and security policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute. He previously served as policy group director and professional staff member for the House Committee on Armed Services.
Frederick W. Kagan is a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute and director of the AEI Critical Threats Project. He was formerly associate professor of military history at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Reviews

Since September 11 the phrase "the long war" has gradually emerged as a theoretical and practical alternative to "war on terrorism." "Long War" is defined, according to the editors of this new collection, as "an effort to create a new-- and by American standards better--political order across the Greater Middle East." Donnelly and Kagan, leading military analysts with the American Enterprise Institute, have assembled a distinguished team of contributors. Peter D. Feaver suggests a "Long War" model will temper current partisan divisions, as did the cold war. Mackubin Owens sees "Long War" as a paradigm for reducing civil-military tensions exacerbated by a focus on immediate solutions. A very persuasive Charles J. Dunlap Jr. calls for the air force to explain to government, the press, and the public why air power is both effective and necessary, despite civilian deaths. Robert Killibrew concludes the volume by calling for the army to prepare for "hybrid" insurgencies: complex synergies of terror, combat, and public relations. "Long War" is a comprehensive approach, as opposed to specific efforts to suppress specific groups, and it receives serious consideration in this policy-oriented book.
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Edition details

• Publisher: AEI Press
• Publication date: 2010
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0844743291
• ISBN 13: 9780844743295
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 180