Table Of Content

The Day After The Day After Why America Wins the War but Loses the Peace Brendan R. Gallagher Cornell University Press Ithaca and London Copyright © 2019 by Cornell University All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in a review, this book, or parts thereof, must not be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher. For information, address Cornell University Press, Sage House, 512 East State Street, Ithaca, New York 14850. Visit our website at cornellpress.cornell.edu. First published 2019 by Cornell University Press Printed in the United States of America Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Gallagher, Brendan R., 1978– author. Title: The day after : why America wins the war but loses the peace / Brendan R. Gallagher. Description: Ithaca, New York : Cornell University Press, 2019. | Includes bibliographical references and index. Identifi ers: LCCN 2019008044 (print) | LCCN 2019018062 (ebook) | ISBN 9781501739637 (pdf) | ISBN 9781501739644 (epub/mobi) | ISBN 9781501739620 (cloth ; alk. paper) Subjects: LCSH: Nation-building—United States—Case studies. | Peace-building, American—Case studies. | Postwar reconstruction— Case studies. | Kosovo War, 1998–1999—Participation, American. | Afghan War, 2001– | Iraq War, 2003–2011. | Libya—History—Civil War, 2011—Participation, American. | United States—Military policy. | United States—Foreign relations—1989– Classifi cation: LCC JZ6300 (ebook) | LCC JZ6300 .G35 2019 (print) | DDC 327.1—dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019008044 U.S. Marines in Afghanistan, 2009. © Peter van Agtmael/Magnum Photos. For Elizabeth and our four terrifi c kids “Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?” “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the Cat. “I don’t care much where—” said Alice. “Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,” said the Cat. “—so long as I get somewhere ,” Alice added as an explanation. “Oh, you’re sure to do that,” said the Cat, “if you only walk long enough.” A lice’s Adventures in Wonderland Lewis Carroll Just when I thought I was out . . . they pull me back in. The Godfather: Part III Michael Corleone Contents Acknowledgments ix Introduction: A Troubling Pattern 1 1. Kosovo: Not Perfect, but Tolerable 35 2. Afghanistan: A Road to Incoherence 69 3. Iraq: The Worst of All Worlds 109 4. Libya: A Slippery Slope 155 Conclusion: To Learn or Not to Learn 203 Note on Sources 227 Further Reading 231 Notes 235 Bibliography 279 Index 297 Acknowledgments This book would not have been possible without extensive help and sup- port. First, a wide range of interviews unearthed new knowledge that signifi cantly infl uenced the trajectory of this book. I am grateful to doz- ens of civilian and military offi cials who provided personal recollections, candid insights, and other forms of crucial assistance. I would particu- larly like to thank General (retired) John Abizaid, Colonel (retired) Kevin Benson, General (retired) George Casey, Christopher Chivvis, Derek Chollet, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Joseph Collins, Ambassador James Dobbins, Colonel (retired) Michael Dziedzic, Peter Feaver, Colonel (retired) Thomas Fisher, Ben Fishman, Colonel (retired) Michael Fitzgerald, former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Michèle Flournoy, former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Ambassador Marc Grossman, General (retired) Carter Ham, former Deputy Assistant Sec- retary of State Leonard Hawley, Colonel (retired) Michael Hess, Colonel (retired) Paul Hughes, Michael Hurley, Lieutenant General (retired) Ralph Jodice, Erica Kaster, Admiral (retired) Samuel Locklear, Lieutenant General