Recent Publications

America’s Flawed Afghanistan Strategy
August 1, 2010 — Author: Dr Steven Metz Each month a member of the SSI faculty writes an editorial for our monthly newsletter. This is the Op-Ed for the August 2010 newsletter.Read Now MORE

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Decisionmaking In Operation IRAQI FREEDOM: The Strategic Shift of 2007
May 1, 2010 — Author: Dr Steven Metz In this second volume of the series, Dr. Metz looks carefully at the 2007 decision to surge forces into Iraq, a choice which is generally considered to have been effective in turning the tide of the war from potential disaster to possible—perhaps probable—strategic success. Although numerous strategic decisions remain to be... MORE

Decisionmaking in Operation IRAQI FREEDOM: Removing Saddam Hussein by Force
February 1, 2010 — Authors: Prof John R Martin, Dr Steven Metz In 1946, General Walter Bedell Smith wrote a series of articles describing six great decisions made in World War II by General Dwight David Eisenhower Writing so soon after the war, General Smith could not hope to produce a definitive history, but felt that writing then would document an important... MORE

Expand the U.S. Military? Not So Fast
July 1, 2008 — Author: Dr Steven Metz Each month a member of the SSI faculty writes an editorial for our monthly newsletter. This is the Op-Ed for the July 2008 newsletter.Read Now MORE

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COIN of the Realm: U.S. Counterinsurgency Strategy
January 1, 2008 — Authors: Dr Steven Metz, Mr Ralph Wipfli Participants at the seminar developed these key insights: Regardless of whether counterinsurgency (COIN) will be the dominant form of military activity in the future or simply one of several, the United States needs an effective national strategy which explains when, why, and how the nation should undertake... MORE

Unlearning Counterinsurgency
November 1, 2004 — Author: Dr Steven Metz Each month a member of the SSI faculty writes an editorial for our monthly newsletter. This is the Op-Ed for the November 2004 newsletter.Read Now MORE

Insurgency and Counterinsurgency in the 21st Century: Reconceputalizing Threat and Response
November 1, 2004 — Authors: Dr Steven Metz, LTC Raymond A Millen Modern insurgency warfare presents fresh challenges for the United States, which must re-conceptualize its approach to fighting such conflicts. Because the dominant characteristics of insurgency--protractedness and ambiguity--effectively stymie the American military's approach to war, the United States... MORE

American Strategy: Issues and Alternatives for the Quadrennial Defense Review
September 1, 2000 — Author: Dr Steven Metz The combination of a congressionally-mandated Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR), a change of presidents, and shifts in the global security environment will force or allow American strategists to rethink some of the basic elements of U.S. strategy and decide if any changes need to be made. It is vital that the defense... MORE

Armed Conflict in the 21st Century: The Information Revolution and Post-Modern Warfare
March 1, 2000 — Author: Dr Steven Metz Within the past decade, the U.S. military has implemented a number of programs to assess the changes underway in the global security environment and in the nature of warfare. Defense leaders and thinkers have concluded that revolutionary change is taking place and, if the United States develops appropriate technology,... MORE

Refining American Strategy in Africa
February 1, 2000 — Author: Dr Steven Metz The author provides a broad overview of the African security environment as a basis for recommendations on the refinement of American strategy in that region. He assesses both the opportunities for positive change which exist today, and the obstacles. While only Africans themselves can determine the future of their region, an... MORE

Nonlethality and American Land Power: Strategic Context and Operational Concepts
June 1, 1998 — Authors: Prof Douglas C Lovelace Jr, Dr Steven Metz Nonlethal technology, concepts and doctrine may provide the Army a way to retain its political utility and military effectiveness in a security environment characterized by ambiguity and the glare of world public opinion. To explore this, the Army is undertaking programs and initiatives which may... MORE

Strategic Horizons: The Military Implications of Alternative Futures
March 7, 1997 — Author: Dr Steven Metz A year ago the Chief of Staff of the Army initiated the Army After Next Project (AANP) as a means of stimulating constructive thinking about the Army's future throughout the service. AANP has quickly developed into a primary vehicle for long-range planning. Under the leadership of the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC),... MORE