Endgame - Lessons from Afghanistan Torbjørn L. Knutsen
Lessons learned for the Alliance – and the allied nations - useful lessons - for future operations
Armed conflicts in 2011
Lessons: Fjellvettreglene (The mountain code”) Legg ikke ut på langtur uten trening. Meld fra hvor du går. Vis respekt for været og værmeldingen. Vær rustet mot uvær og kulde selv på korte turer. Lytt til erfarne fjellfolk. Bruk kart og kompass. Gå ikke alene. Vend i tide. Det er ingen skam å snu. Spar på kreftene. Grav deg ned i snøen om nødvendig.
Intervensjonsvettreglene (Nine sensible rules for invading small countries) Don’t embark on a long trip without training Report where you are heading Show respect for the weather … Be prepared for bad weather – even on short trips Listen to experienced people Use map and compass Never go alone Turn back in time Save your energy. Dig a shelter in the snow if need be
Nine rules for military intervention 1 Get a clear mandate 2 Get to know the conflict 3 Get to know what you can do about it 4 Develop a grand strategy 5 Military force is no solution by itself
Nine rules for military intervention 6 Keep goals and ambitions in line 7 Keep rhetoric modest 8 Allied coordination is always a problem 9 Establish formal routines for learning
Differences within the alliance ... differences in national character/culture ... different degrees in domestic consensus ... differences in ambitions and aims ... differences in power ... differences in goals ... differences in lessons drawn
Lessons learned Academic lessons vs Political lessons
The end