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The Future of Stability Operations: Lessons Learned from Iraq
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
As the United States
fights ongoing wars in both Iraq and
Afghanistan, it is important to take a step
back and assess the larger strategic
implications for our national security. Do the
tactics applied represent a good understanding
of recent (and not so recent) US history? If
not, what changes must be made to enhance the
chances for success? This is precisely what Dr.
Anthony Cordesman did at the Center for
National Policy on June 10.
Dr. Cordesman began by highlighting the complexity involved in America’s current missions. As outlined by Cordesman, “you have to deal with entire nations, with their perceptions, their actions, their neighbors and alliances, and you have to do it simultaneously, regardless of whether you have the assets and capabilities.” He also discussed the “large-scale historical forces,” closely linked with a country’s culture and regional pressures, which shape foreign operations.
Dr. Cordesman emphasized the importance of doing a thorough net assessment before taking action abroad or making major national security decisions, as such operations tend to be more complex, costly and longer in duration than most policymakers would like to believe. Having a well-functioning interagency process for arriving at such assessments must be a priority in the nation’s national security apparatus.
Additionally, he stressed the importance of local factors and the situation on the ground in determining the success of any counterinsurgency-like operations, drawing on the famous “all politics is local” statement by former Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill. Among the details he identified as being the most important, Dr. Cordesman spoke of creating a stable government, an economic order of some sort, a security apparatus, and buy-in from an adequate number of people, political parties and factions in the country in order to legitimize and sustain stability.
Dr. Cordesman began by highlighting the complexity involved in America’s current missions. As outlined by Cordesman, “you have to deal with entire nations, with their perceptions, their actions, their neighbors and alliances, and you have to do it simultaneously, regardless of whether you have the assets and capabilities.” He also discussed the “large-scale historical forces,” closely linked with a country’s culture and regional pressures, which shape foreign operations.
Dr. Cordesman emphasized the importance of doing a thorough net assessment before taking action abroad or making major national security decisions, as such operations tend to be more complex, costly and longer in duration than most policymakers would like to believe. Having a well-functioning interagency process for arriving at such assessments must be a priority in the nation’s national security apparatus.
Additionally, he stressed the importance of local factors and the situation on the ground in determining the success of any counterinsurgency-like operations, drawing on the famous “all politics is local” statement by former Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill. Among the details he identified as being the most important, Dr. Cordesman spoke of creating a stable government, an economic order of some sort, a security apparatus, and buy-in from an adequate number of people, political parties and factions in the country in order to legitimize and sustain stability.
CNP Views
- CNP agrees
with Dr. Cordesman about the importance of net
assessment capabilities. The government and
public, to the extent possible, must weigh the
full range of implications and consequences
that any major foreign operations will
have. The next administration should
assess the current net assessment capabilities
of the interagency process, and make any proper
adjustments that may be required.
- The United States military must
also do an assessment of its counterinsurgency
capabilities, which CNP is doing as part of its
Defense Transformation Series. Lessons
learned from Iraq and Afghanistan, in addition
to other conflicts, must be studied and applied
to future conflicts.