Strategic Reflections

Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom were the first major wars of the 21st century. They will not be the last. They have significantly impacted how our government and military think about prosecuting wars. They will have a generational impact on the U.S. military as its future leaders particularly those in the ground forces will for decades be men and women who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.* I believe it is imperative that leaders at all levels both military and civilian share their experiences to ensure that we as a military and as a country gain appropriate insights for the future. As the Army chief of staff I encouraged leaders at the war colleges staff colleges and advanced courses to write about what they did in Iraq and Afghanistan so that others could be better prepared when they faced similar challenges. This book is my effort to follow my own advice. I believe that we have not seen the last of the challenges and demands that I faced during..