Counterinsurgency American style: Considering David Petraeus and twenty-first century irregular war |
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Authors: | James A. Russell |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of National Security Affairs, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA, USAjarussel@nps.edu |
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Abstract: | This article examines the complex legacy of David Petraeus who was a key figure in the emergence of the US military shift towards counterinsurgency doctrine in the years after 2006. Although Petraeus has been perceived by critics as a publicity seeker, he can be credited with laying the foundations for a more serious commitment to COIN involving in particular in integrating conventional and Special Forces in arenas like village stability operations. The article looks a Petraeus's role in both Iraq and Afghanistan: it concludes that, in the case of Afghanistan, it is too early to assess whether counterinsurgency has had a decisive impact of the outcome of the war against the Taliban. |
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Keywords: | Afghanistan Iraq ISAF, Stanley McChrystal Ray Odierno Operation Moshtarak David Petraeus: revolution of military affairs (RMA) Taliban Vietnam |
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