Todd Greentree’s seven principles for the next time we get mixed up in a small war
Todd Greentree, who served as director of the RC-South initiatives group in Kandahar during 2010-2011, offers these recommendations in an article in the Journal of Strategic Studies: (1) Prepare above all to assist a government through political action and economic development while helping it protect its population from security threats, without taking the job over. ...
Todd Greentree, who served as director of the RC-South initiatives group in Kandahar during 2010-2011, offers these recommendations in an article in the Journal of Strategic Studies:
(1) Prepare above all to assist a government through political action and economic development while helping it protect its population from security threats, without taking the job over.
(2) Commit early and decisively, but for the long-term, with clear political and military aims; trying to combat an industrial strength insurgency is much harder, takes longer, and is likely to be unsustainable.
Todd Greentree, who served as director of the RC-South initiatives group in Kandahar during 2010-2011, offers these recommendations in an article in the Journal of Strategic Studies:
(1) Prepare above all to assist a government through political action and economic development while helping it protect its population from security threats, without taking the job over.
(2) Commit early and decisively, but for the long-term, with clear political and military aims; trying to combat an industrial strength insurgency is much harder, takes longer, and is likely to be unsustainable.
(3) Create organizational arrangements tailored to the specific situation and scale of threat, and are capable of adapting rapidly.
(4) Establish clear lines of authority sufficient to achieve unity of effort, while maximizing unity of command the closer the situation is to war.
(5) Integrate civilian and military efforts at all levels.
(6) In pursuing campaign plans and programs maintain focus on political purpose.
(7) Educate a cadre of civilian and military officials from multiple organizations and elaborate a shared civil-military doctrine.
More from Foreign Policy

Lessons for the Next War
Twelve experts weigh in on how to prevent, deter, and—if necessary—fight the next conflict.

It’s High Time to Prepare for Russia’s Collapse
Not planning for the possibility of disintegration betrays a dangerous lack of imagination.

Turkey Is Sending Cold War-Era Cluster Bombs to Ukraine
The artillery-fired cluster munitions could be lethal to Russian troops—and Ukrainian civilians.

Congrats, You’re a Member of Congress. Now Listen Up.
Some brief foreign-policy advice for the newest members of the U.S. legislature.