Recent Publications

Winning the War by Winning the Peace: Strategy for Conflict and Post-Conflict in the 21st Century
December 1, 2004 — Author: COL Lloyd J MatthewsDuring each of the last 15 years, the U.S. Army War College has sponsored a broad-based strategy conference that addresses a major security issue of current relevance to the United States, its allies, and, indeed, the entire world. The conference theme for year 2004 was "Winning the War by Winning the Peace: Strategy for... MORE

The Paradox of Civil War
December 1, 2004 — Author: Dr Stephen D Biddle Each month a member of the SSI faculty writes an editorial for our monthly newsletter. This is the Op-Ed for the December 2004 newsletter.Read Now MORE

Strategic Ends in the Middle East
July 1, 2004 — Author: LTC Raymond A Millen Each month a member of the SSI faculty writes an editorial for our monthly newsletter. This is the Op-Ed for the June 2004 newsletter.Read Now MORE

Developing Adaptive Leaders: The Crucible Experience of Operation Iraqi Freedom
July 1, 2004 — Author: Dr Leonard Wong The author examines the Operation IRAQI FREEDOM environment and concludes that the complexity, unpredictability, and ambiguity of postwar Iraq is producing a cohort of innovative, confident, and adaptable junior officers. They are learning to make decisions in chaotic conditions and to be mentally agile in executing... MORE

Iraq and Vietnam: Differences, Similarities, and Insights
May 1, 2004 — Authors: Dr Jeffrey Record, Dr W Andrew Terrill U.S. political and military difficulties in Iraq have prompted comparisons to the American war in Vietnam. The authors conclude that the military dimensions of the two conflicts bear little comparison. Among other things, the sheer scale of the Vietnam War in terms of forces committed and losses... MORE

Strategic Consequences of the Iraq War: U.S. Security Interests in Central Asia Reassessed
May 1, 2004 — Author: Dr Elizabeth Wishnick The U.S.-led war in Iraq complicates security cooperation between the United States and Central Asia at a time when other regional powers—especially Russia, China, and India—are competing for influence in the region more overtly. Concerned about the implications of the U.S. interest in "regime change" for their own... MORE

The United States and Iraq’s Shi’ite Clergy: Partners or Adversaries?
February 1, 2004 — Author: Dr W Andrew Terrill The author addressed the critical need to gain the cooperation or at least the passive tolerance of the Shi'ite clerics and community. Such an effort could become more challenging as time goes on, and one of the recurring themes of this monograph is the declining patience of the Shi'ite clergy with the U.S. presence. By... MORE

Bounding the Global War on Terrorism
December 1, 2003 — Author: Dr Jeffrey Record The author examines three features of the war on terrorism as currently defined and conducted: (1) the administration's postulation of the terrorist threat, (2) the scope and feasibility of U.S. war aims, and (3) the war's political, fiscal, and military sustainability. He believes that the war on terrorism--as opposed to... MORE

What should be Believed about Progress in Iraq?
October 1, 2003 — Author: Prof John R Martin Each month a member of the SSI faculty writes an editorial for our monthly newsletter. This is the Op-Ed for the October 2003 newsletter.Read Now MORE

The Need for a United Nations’ Security Role in Iraq
August 1, 2003 — Author: Dr W Andrew Terrill Each month a member of the SSI faculty writes an editorial for our monthly newsletter. This is the Op-Ed for the August 2003 newsletter.Read Now MORE

Nationalism, Sectarianism, and the Future of the U.S. Presence in Post-Saddam Iraq
July 1, 2003 — Author: Dr W Andrew Terrill The author addresses the critical questions involved in understanding the background of Iraqi national identity and the ways in which it may evolve in the future to either the favor or detriment of the United States. He pays particular attention to the issue of Iraqi sectarianism and the emerging role of the Shi'ite... MORE

Why They Fight: Combat Motivation in the Iraq War
July 1, 2003 — Authors: COL Thomas A Kolditz, LTC Raymond A Millen, COL Terrence M Potter, Dr Leonard Wong With the recent lightning swift combat successes of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, there may be a tendency to view with awe the lethality of U.S. technology and training. The researchers, however, argue that the true strength of America's military might lies not... MORE