The war is not over; luckily we’re in a much better phase now then we were 2007-2008. The phase of the war we’re in now is to consolidate and expand gains and prevent resurgence of violence and the insurgent’s ability to re-shape the situation. The task in this phase of…
Lieutenant General Dubik identifies the key principles for transition from the Iraq situation during his time in Iraq. He suggests some key lessons learned which provide a foundation for Afghanistan and to meet the continuing challenges with regard to Iraq in 2010 and 2011.
The impact of modernization on operations could not be clearer than in this case of rescuing a sailor at sea. Not only did the new mission systems and C4ISR assets play a central role in allowing the USCG professionals to save this man’s life, it would have been unlikely that…
"If there's any perception or notion that we're babying or coddling the Ospreys, you need to come out here. We have done tactical inserts. In fact, when we went into Now Zad behind enemy lines at three in the morning, we used Ospreys, because they were the right platform for…
I had extensive conversations in the period of the counter-offensive with General Babaker, Chief of Staff of the Iraqi Forces, as well as the Defense and Interior Ministers with regard to how to build up their forces. This was a dialogue and a shaping effort to determine what would work.…
In the often-parochial policy debates inside the Beltway, it is often forgotten that US actions more than words have significance for its allies. Decisions by the Administration and Congress about key weapons programs –F-35, tanker, C-17 PBLs, etc – have decisive significance for allies as well.
Distributed operations are mostly outlying bases and living with the people out in their village and their township. One of the advantages of the airplane is the fact that it allows us to land literally at dozens of these places in a single day, move mail, food, water, and in…
When Fallujah erupted in April 2004, the Marines needed TacAir that operated above 11,500 feet for CAS, creating air control problems. (...) By turning the Fallujah fight over to the Marine Corps the CFACC could focus on other areas where insurgent activity was expected to increase.
