The Soldiers, Spies, and Special Agents Who Are Revolutionizing the American Way of War
September 12, 2016
Kitfield (War and Destiny), a senior fellow at the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress, analyzes the cadre of leaders that came of age during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, asserting that the U.S. national security apparatus has developed a new and devastatingly effective approach to war. This new approach is based on the F3EA techniques pioneered by generals Stanley McChrystal and Mike Flynn in Iraq: “find, fix, finish, exploit, and analyze.” Kitfield’s well-researched argument, based on interviews and personal experience, describes the professional development and interaction of these and other innovators as they come to occupy some of the highest positions in the national security structure. A new cooperative interagency culture is a hallmark of the tactics employed globally as the centerpiece of U.S. counterterrorism strategy. Kitfield acknowledges that the F3EA tactic is not a war winner, but rather provides time for other more deliberate and traditional nation-building strategies to win. He also includes in his analysis the rise of ISIS in Syria and Iraq, European immigration issues, and the recent Paris (2015) and Brussels (2016) terrorist attacks. Kitfield’s insightful and timely work highlights the gaps between policy makers and military brass. Agent: Andrew Stuart, Stuart Agency.