Military Adaptation in Afghanistan

Theo Farrell is Professor of War in the Modern World at King's College London.Frans Osinga is an Air Commodore in the Royal Netherlands Air Force and a Professor at the Royal Netherlands Defence Academy.James Russell is an Associate Professor at the Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey.

"Overall, this book is the rarest of breeds, an integrated anthology of experts consistently applying a well-designed analytical framework. From this broad collection of different authors, a number of clear and reasonable conclusions were drawn. The writing is crisp, detailed and informed, and the editing obviously disciplined. Both the analytical framework and its execution reveal unique insights on contemporary conflict in general, and the character of military adaptation in complex irregular contingencies. The utility of this volume to ongoing debates about the future utility of force and the challenge of irregular warfare is evident. It will also be useful for NATO military leaders interested in gaining competitive advantage in future conflicts, and anyone seeking to avoid refighting the last war. Given the breadth of issues raised about contemporary conflict and the enormous value of the complexities of coalition warfare, this book will be valuable for interdisciplinary students, scholars of strategic studies and international students of warfare. Accordingly, it is highly endorsed and enthusiastically recommended for extended examination and follow-on studies."—Frank Hoffman, International Politics Reviews "Military Adaptation in Afghanistan provides an excellent encapsulation of the learning and adaptation that have occurred over the course of that conflict. It will serve as an excellent resource for military practitioners, historians, political scientists, and policy makers alike."—Daniel Marston, Principal, Military and Defense Studies Program, Australian Command and Staff College "In Military Adaptation and the Afghanistan War, contributing editors Theo Farrell, Frans Osinga, and James Russell have very effectively focused a select yet diverse group of expert authors to craft a coherent and timely analysis of tactical, operational, and strategic adaptation in Afghanistan. This is the first and only book that examines the war in Afghanistan through the lens of adaptation across such a range of military organizations. All security practitioners and scholars should indeed read this insightful book because it is exceedingly salient and it highlights the grave consequences of not adapting or adapting too slowly at war."—Colonel Robert Cassidy, author of War, Will, and Warlords