Never Again? Germany's Lessons from the War in Afghanistan

Defense officials and politicians claimed to learn lessons from Germany's involvement in Afghanistan.Practitioners asserted a successful mission would have required more time and resources.Politicians developed a preference for training missions instead of combat missions.While both concluded interventions intended to transform foreign societies still made sense in principle, the most logical lesson is quite the opposite: Germany must avoid such engagements.G ermany's participation in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan (2002-14) did not have a unified goal.Instead, German military, diplomats, and politicians worked toward diverse and often implicit goals that did not relate to Afghanistan.This situation makes it impossible to identify general lessons learned.Military and diplomatic practitioners concluded more resources and time would be required in future interventions, and politicians implicitly concluded the country should avoid intensive combat missions-referring to what occurred in the later stage of ISAF-and instead support smaller enhancing and enabling missions.Yet practitioners and politicians both believe interventions intended to transform foreign societies make sense in principle.This article refutes this shared conclusion, arguing instead that the most logical lesson is to avoid such engagements in the future

Economic history · Political science · Defense, Military, and Policy Studies · History · Military and Defense Studies · Politics and Conflicts in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Middle East

• War Comes to Garmser

  John T Alexander, John Alexander•Asian Affairs•2013

  Add to list