From Kabul to Baghdad and Back:the US at war in Afghanistan and Iraq

摘要

In the last decade, the US has led two near-simultaneous campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq. These campaigns are the subject of From Kabul to Baghdad and Back: the US at war in Afghanistan and Iraq. The book's thesis is two-fold. First, despite the US definition and practice of campaigning (see 'definitions' on page 105), mistakes have occurred in both theatres, and US strategic direction has not always guided operational objectives. Second, despite the US strategic intent to simultaneously 'rebalance toward the Asia-Pacific region' and 'continue to place a premium on US and allied military presence in, and support of, partner nations in and around [the Middle East]'1, the campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq significantly challenged US human, material and financial capabilities.