Digital Commons Network^™

Quarrelsome Siblings – The Relationship Between Special Operations And Conventional Forces, Anna M. Gielas Phd

Journal of Strategic Security

The relationship between U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF) and Conventional Forces (CF) has historically been challenging, leading to mission failures and the loss of lives. An unprecedented integration of the two forces was seen following 9/11 during Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. This article investigates whether this intimate collaboration in Afghanistan and Iraq improved relations between SOF and CF. Drawing from a sample of 48 master’s theses authored by U.S. officers on the topic of SOF–CF integration from 1994 to 2018, this article documents a deterioration in the relationship between the two forces and identifies four underlying causes. It …

Explaining The U.S Failure In Afghanistan, Edwar Ramirez

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis offers a comprehensive analysis of the trajectory of U.S. foreign policy in Afghanistan spanning multiple administrations from Obama to Biden, contextualizing it within broader shifts in American interventionism since the Cold War. An examination of the Obama, Trump, and Biden eras, delineates the complexities of military interventions, nation-building endeavors, the limitations of incrementalism in addressing the multifaceted challenges of conflict resolution, and the challenges of maintaining stability in conflict regions while avoiding prolonged military engagements. Ultimately, it advocates for a comprehensive and more flexible approach to foreign policy, balancing idealistic aspirations with pragmatic considerations to safeguard national interests, …

Disempowered And Disappointed Locals: The Impact Of Negative Hybrid Peacebuilding On Sociocultural Transformation Of Afghanistan, Seyed Ali Hosseini

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This dissertation conceptualizes peacebuilding in Afghanistan (2001-2021) as facilitation of sociocultural transformation of the country towards accepting the international norms important for sustainable peace, such as democracy, human rights, and gender equality. Hence, peacebuilding was highly normative and required enormous changes promoted by key peacebuilding actors to transform Afghan politics, society, and culture from a traditional society marked by fragmentation and radicalization to one that embraced these values.

The dissertation proposes that the peacebuilding effort that took place in post-2001 Afghanistan was hybrid, as the international community pursued the goals of building a state committed to these liberal principles, as …

A Bigger Picture, Benjamin Richard Addison

Masters Theses

The subject of my final creative project is a short story about my dream of becoming an artist and realizing that good deeds are the brush strokes of God’s masterpiece. My earliest memories as a child are about the simple joy of drawing and coloring people, places and things from my imagination. I always enjoyed making gifts of my artwork. Serving others is an early calling. Creative thinking and problem solving are special gifts that helped me to survive domestic violence and sexual abuse as a child and to overcome the many challenges I would face during a twenty-six year …

Book Reviews, Usawc Press

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

No abstract provided.

Operation Nation-Building: How International Humanitarian Law Left Afghanistan Open On The Operating Table, Nina Griscelli

University of Miami Law Review

Military campaigns often carry with them official names and underpinning objectives. In Afghanistan, these campaigns were known as Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001, and later, in 2015, as Operation Freedom Sentinel. In total, the United States and its allies remained in Afghan territory for 7,268 days, twenty years, in support of the “Global War on Terror.” Within that time, the democratic construction of a “free” Afghan society—also known as nation-building, regime change, or transformative military occupation—deeply transformed the status quo of the population. To the West, “Operation Nation-Building” became the most strategic and “hopeful alternative to the vision of the …

Srad Director's Corner: Afghanistan: The Logic Of Failing, Fast And Slow, George Shatzer

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

In the fifth installment of the SRAD Director’s Corner, “Afghanistan: The Logic of Failing, Fast and Slow,” George Shatzer focuses on the failure of the US-led war and reconstruction campaign in Afghanistan. He reviews The Forty-year War in Afghanistan: A Chronicle Foretold by Tariq Ali and The Fifth Act: America’s End in Afghanistan by Elliot Ackerman. He brings personal experience to bear in his review, painting a picture of why the United States failed in Afghanistan and posing these failures as lessons that must be learned before the next war. The books also provide insights for strategists attempting to plan …

Defeat In Afghanistan: An Autopsy, Joseph J. Collins

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

Policy initiatives in the Trump administration and the Biden-Harris administration significantly accelerated the Taliban’s victory in Afghanistan. This article supports the conclusion that the major factors in this defeat were the historical difficulty in governing Afghanistan, the Afghan republic’s two inefficient and corrupt governments, an ineffective US strategy, operational shortcomings by US forces, an ineffective Afghan military, Pakistan’s duplicitous policy, and the strength and determination of the Taliban. This article rejects the claim that the United States’ nation-building effort was a major factor in its defeat and concludes with a discussion of lessons encountered.

Review And Reply: On “Why America’S Army Can’T Win America’S Wars” (Part 2), G. L. Lamborn, John A. Nagl

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

This commentary responds to John A. Nagl’s article, “Why America’s Army Can’t Win America’s Wars,” published in the Autumn 2022 issue of Parameters (vol. 52, no. 3).

Distracted U.S. Foreign Policy Sector: The Effects Of Strategic Prioritization Towards A Rising Chinese State In East Asia, Liliana Ramos

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The question of the stability of American hegemony has consumed U.S. International Relations discourse since the Post-Cold War narrative. With the rapid changes in the international realm and the countless U.S. humanitarian and military operations around the globe, it is no surprise that many well-known researchers have taken the time to look at the impact of American hegemony under strict observation. However, more analysis must be made of these operations' strategic purpose and success. This thesis strives to fill this gap by conducting in-depth case studies on various U.S. military operations from the early 2000s to the present in the …

Ingos In Afghanistan: Impact Of Activities And Attributes On Attack, Kathryn M. Lambert

Journal of Strategic Security

International NGOs (INGOs) operate in insecure environments where they provide life-saving services to the world's neediest populations. This study examines the impact of organizational attributes and activities on INGO vulnerability to insurgent attacks in Afghanistan. The study operationalizes three organizational attributes: 1)sustainability, measured by the organization’s longevity; 2)perceived independence from the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT), measured by whether the INGO operated in Afghanistan before or after September 11, 2001; and 3)religiosity coded as secular, faith-inspired, or faith-based. In addition, the study operationalizes three INGO activities: 1)type of gender-focused activities and programs of each organization; 2)transformational advocacy, measured as promoting …

Allow Them To Take The Reins: Why Central Asian States Need To Lead In Afghanistan, Brandon Angel

Helm's School of Government Conference - 2021-2024

No abstract provided.

Un Missions And Their Failures: How Collaboration With Military Force Complicates Un Intervention In Areas Of Conflict, Nevada Lee

Scripps Senior Theses

My thesis explores the collaboration between UN Assistance and Peacekeeping missions and multi-lateral Western Counterterrorism forces. Through studying four UN Missions, I found that the missions and the counterterrorism forces often had conflicting goals, but continued to collaborate because of the interests of Western Democracies that dominate UN policy. The lack of focus on UN Missions' mandated goals is eroding the integrity of the UN as a whole and the work the organization accomplishes.

The Faces Of War: Reintroducing Women's Narratives In War, Robin Makena Peterson

CMC Senior Theses

Women take part in every war, but their accomplishments are mostly unacknowledged in the thousands of war stories told in the aftermath which tend to valorize men’s contributions as political leaders and soldiers. This erasure of women’s experience’s and agency in war holds true for war in Afghanistan, as well. This thesis identifies the gendered narratives told in books, movies, television shows, and the media but then offers, in contrast, narratives of Afghan and American women’s action during the forty years of war in Afghanistan. By sharing and contextualizing women’s stories, this paper strikes a blow against women’s erasure from …

Fall/Winter 2021: St. Norbert Abbey Opens Its Doors To Afghan Refugees, St. Norbert College

St. Norbert College Magazine 2019-2023

The staff and Norbertines of St. Norbert Abbey welcomed eight refugees in November, providing them with clothes, food and warm beds. For the refugees, this is the end of their journey from Afghanistan and the start of their new lives in the United States.

Canadian-Organized Airlift Needed To Bring Food, Medical Provisions To Afghanistan, Erika Simpson

Political Science Publications

The crisis in Afghanistan has raised concerns globally about NATO's role, humanitarian aid, and international responses. As the Taliban took control, questions about aid and refugee flows grew. The U.S. and NATO's withdrawal left behind advanced weapons now used by the Taliban, sparking criticism and discussions on global responsibilities.

Canada's past involvement and current debates on helping Afghans highlight challenges in international intervention and ethical duties. This crisis shows how complex geopolitics and human rights issues can be in conflict zones.

With uncertainty ahead for Afghanistan's future and implications for global security, the crisis reminds us of the challenges and …

Information Technology Usage Among Afghan Women Business Leaders, Karen A. Putnam

Communications of the IIMA

Prior to 2001, under the Taliban-ruled government, Afghanistan Information Technology (IT) usage was restricted to a few select individuals. Women were not allowed to attend schools or enter public areas without a related male escort and were expected to stay in the family home (Roshan, 2013). However, since 2001, the Afghan IT infrastructure allowed women to join the business sector to become educated in commerce, and they marketed products, goods, or services. Simple IT tools such as mobile phones have offered affordable business options for women, such as payment transactions over the phone or social media accounts. Afghan women leaders …

Media And War: Vietnam And Afghanistan, Safet Zejnullahu

UBT International Conference

Robert McNamara, the U.S. Secretary of Defense at the height of the Vietnam War, after a visit to the war fronts, held two press conferences, one under Tan Son Nhut Airport and the other after arriving in the country, at Andrews Air Force Base. In both he expressed optimism for victory. He told the president the truth. But it took eight years for the New York Times and the Washington Post to publish secret documents known as the Pentagon Papers, which presented the truth that the American leadership knew about the Vietnam War. This was the report of the American …

Shrinking Civic Space For Human Rights Defenders In Afghanistan Following The U.S. Military Drawdown In 2014, Abdul Rahman Yasa

Journal of Strategic Security

Civic space, an imperative to a democratic society where citizens can exercise their basic rights, is now under attack in Afghanistan. The fall of the Islamic Emirate in 2001 by a coalition of the U.S.-led military intervention grounded the rise of a vibrant environment for civil society and human rights defenders (HRDs). Promoting and safeguarding democratic values, mainly freedom of speech, assembly, and association, enshrined within a progressive constitutional framework, had turned to the topic of the day. The heavy presence of foreign troops with the money influx put strong support behind the nascent Afghan CSOs, HRDs, and democracy advocates …

Taliban: A Bibliometric Investigation, Javid Ahmad Dar, Ufaira Yaseen Shah, Fayaz Ahmad Loan, Aadil Bashir, Manzoor Hussain

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The primary objective of this study is to identify the global research output on Taliban during the period of 25 years spanning from 1996-2020. Specific objectives are to analyze the distribution of literature, publication trends, authorship patterns, institutional productivity, collaboration networks, and prolific funding agencies. The data was harvested from the Web of Science Core Collection. A total of 614 records were retrieved on Taliban having 4416 total citations. The highest output was recorded in 2002, with a share of 7.83% of overall literature. The citation pattern depicted a fluctuating, the highest share being received in the year 2002 (14.47%), …

The Evolution Of Hybrid Warfare: Implications For Strategy And The Military Profession, Ilmari Käihkö

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

The concept of hybrid war has evolved from operational-level use of military means and methods in war toward strategic-level use of nonmilitary means in a gray zone below the threshold of war. This article considers this evolution and its implications for strategy and the military profession by contrasting past and current use of the hybrid war concept and raising critical questions for policy and military practitioners.

India's Role In The Reconstruction Of Afghanistan: Challenges And Prospects, Pradeep Reddy Tangirala

University Departments

No abstract provided.

U.S., Nato Afghanistan Withdrawal Impacts Counterterrorism Operations, Progress For Afghan Women, Erika Simpson

Political Science Publications

This abstract discusses the abrupt decision by the United States and NATO allies to accelerate the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan by September 11th, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Framed as an effort to conclude America's longest war, the withdrawal reflects shifting priorities and challenges, including financial strains and global health concerns amid COVID-19. It examines the impact on Afghanistan's security landscape, the potential resurgence of the Taliban, and the plight of women and children in a country marked by ongoing conflict and instability. The abstract also explores geopolitical implications and the broader strategic recalibration within …

Failure To Launch: Evaluating The Costs And Benefits Of America’S Strategy For Building Afghanistan’S Air Force, Alexander Smith

Senior Theses

The United States has been at war in Afghanistan for twenty years. For eighteen of these years, it has spent precious time, money, and resources to modernize the Afghan Air Force (AAF). In my thesis, I conduct a cost-benefit analysis of this strategy to determine whether the net benefits and the overall outcome of the program justify the level of U.S. investment. I compare U.S. efforts with the AAF to those with the Iraqi Air Force while exploring the idea of path dependency. My analysis reveals that U.S. efforts to modernize the AAF have been a failure. The United States …

Afghanistan’S First Female Deminers: An Analysis Of Perception Changes Among Deminers, Families, And Communities, Gichd

Global CWD Repository

For the first time in the thirty years of mine action in Afghanistan, as part of an initiative of the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), in June 2018 a mixed-gender demining team was deployed by the Danish Demining Group (DRC-DDG) to clear landmines in Bamyan Province, in the central highlands of the country. A minefield was successfully cleared in six months. Following the success of the first project, in 2019 the same demining team was deployed once again to Bamyan to clear other hazards, including the last known minefield in the province. Bamyan has since been declared the first …

Conditions-Based Negotiations, Renewed Nato Troop Commitments Needed In Afghanistan, Erika Simpson

Political Science Publications

The article discusses the necessity of a conditions-based approach for U.S. troop withdrawals from Afghanistan, rather than adhering to a strict timeline. The current situation in Afghanistan is fragile, with the Taliban showing no incentives to compromise and ongoing violence claiming numerous lives. NATO defense ministers recently reaffirmed their commitment to the mission in Afghanistan, emphasizing the importance of renewed and smaller troop commitments. The Afghan government's involvement in peace talks with the Taliban has not yielded significant breakthroughs, as procedural issues dominate the discussions. The article criticizes former U.S. President Donald Trump's inconsistent strategies and highlights the potential risks …

Why The Taliban Have Been Successful In Afghanistan, Donovan Fox

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The purpose of this study is to attempt to solve why the Taliban have been successful in Afghanistan. In an attempt to solve why, I develop and test a theory on the Taliban's success against the U.S. in Afghanistan. My theory claims that the Taliban have been successful due to U.S. forces committing wrongdoings towards Afghan civilians. These wrongdoings, in turn, pushed civilian support away from the U.S. and its allies in this war. Afghan civilians would side with the Taliban, as they sought protection from the invading forces in their country. As a result of this gain in support, …

Us Of Al Review, Jonathan Pucci

Mighty Pen Project Anthology & Archive

A review of the sitcom US of Al by a marine who served in Afghanistan.

Articles, stories, and other compositions in this archive were written by participants in the Mighty Pen Project. The program, developed by author David L. Robbins, and in partnership with Virginia Commonwealth University and the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond, Virginia, offers veterans and their family members a customized twelve-week writing class, free of charge. The program encourages, supports, and assists participants in sharing their stories and experiences of military experience so both writer and audience may benefit.

Trump Administration’S Drawdown Of Troops In Afghanistan Risks Putting Peace, Progress In The Country In Danger, Erika Simpson

Political Science Publications

The conflict in Afghanistan remains one of the world's bloodiest, with ongoing violence from the Taliban, Islamic State, and al-Qaeda. Recent attacks, including a rocket barrage on Kabul's Green Zone and a massacre at Kabul University, underscore the volatile security situation. Despite the U.S.-Taliban peace agreement, the Taliban continue to conduct significant attacks. The Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) struggle to operate independently, necessitating continued support from U.S. and NATO forces. The NATO-led Resolute Support Mission (RSM) and the U.S. Operation Freedom’s Sentinel (OFS) provide essential training, advice, and counterterrorism support. However, the U.S. administration's plans for a …

Parameters Winter 2020, Usawc Parameters

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

No abstract provided.