The Weight of a Question: Why the U.S. Military Does Not Discuss Strategic and Operational Failures in Iraq and Afghanistan

Abstract

This paper seeks to address the absence of discussion concerning the military's role in the lack of success in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is not meant to address the issues of failure, but the lack of discussion of failure. Overwhelming public support, an unremitting operational tempo, and the changing threat environment have allowed the military to avoid a much-needed debate concerning its role in failed national policy in Iraq and Afghanistan. These current circumstances coupled with our military culture equate to a deafening silence that may be as much a crisis as the military's inability to achieve policy. The only possible catalyst for an honest dialogue is for institutional leaders to drive the conversation in professional forums.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2018
Accession Number
AD1062183

Entities

People

  • Sean P. Dynan

Organizations

  • Naval War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Afghanistan
  • Catalysts
  • Contractors
  • Department Of Defense
  • Deployment
  • Environment
  • Lessons Learned
  • National Security
  • New York
  • Organizational Structure
  • Procurement
  • Recognition
  • Security
  • Training
  • United States
  • War
  • Warfare

Fields of Study

  • Political science

Readers

  • Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.
  • Systems Analysis and Design