Village Stability Operations and the Evolution of SOF Command and Control in Afghanistan: Implications for the Future of Irregular Warfare
Abstract
With the war in Iraq winding down, newly-elected President Obama redirected resources to the war in Afghanistanthe war of necessity. In addition to an increased emphasis and additional resources, this war demanded new ideas and leadership. By the summer of 2009, the commander in-chief would designate U.S. Army (Ret.) General Stanley McChrystal as the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)/U.S. ForcesAfghanistan(USFOR-A) commander. In late June 2009, General McChrystal was directed to provide an assessment of the situation in Afghanistan. On 30 August he provided that assessment: The situation in Afghanistan is serious. The mission can be accomplished, but this will require fundamental changes. First, ISAF must focus on getting the basics right to achieve a new, population centric operational culture and better unity of effort. Second, ISAF must also adopt a new strategy, one that is properly resourced to radically increase partnership with the ANSF [Afghan National Security Force], emphasize governance, prioritize resources where the population is threatened, and gain the initiative from the insurgency. - U.S. Army (Ret.) General Stanley McChrystal2
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2020
- Accession Number
- AD1131150
Entities
People
- Mark Nutsch
- William Knarr
Organizations
- Joint Special Operations University