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

Donnelly, Thomas; Kagan, Frederick W.

ISBN 10: 0844743291 / ISBN 13: 9780844743295

Published by American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, 2010

About this Item

Former library copy. Pages intact with possible writing/highlighting. Binding strong with minor wear. Dust jackets/supplements may not be included. Includes library markings. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good.

Seller Inventory # 1056311-6

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Lessons for a Long War : How America Can Win on New Battlefields
• Publisher: American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research
• Publication Date: 2010
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0844743291
• ISBN 13: 9780844743295
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: Very Good
• Weight: 0.922 pounds

About this title

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 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.