Positions on American policy David Kilcullen

1 positions on american policy

1.1 iraq war
1.2 criticizing american policy
1.3 drone use

positions on american policy
iraq war

in interview spencer ackerman of washington independent in 2008, kilcullen called decision invade iraq fucking stupid , suggested if policy-makers apply manual s lessons, similar wars can avoided in future. biggest stupid idea, kilcullen said, invade iraq in first place. kilcullen didn t deny saying it, rather can categorically state word ‘fucking’ said off record . kilcullen explained comment next day:

[i]n view, decision invade iraq in 2003 extremely serious strategic error. task of moment not cry on spilt milk, rather clean up: task in surge, comprehensive counterinsurgency approach, , our troops on ground admirably succeeding.

... question of whether right invade iraq fascinating debate historians , politicians, , valid issue american people consider in election year. happens, think mistake. not key concern. issue practitioners in field not second-guess decision 6 years ago, on job @ hand which, believe, both americans , iraqis expect of us. in respect, new strategy , tactics implemented in 2007, , relied effectiveness on troop numbers of surge, succeeding , need supported.

in book blood year, published in 2016, kilcullen makes clear view there undeniably no isis if had not invaded iraq. in march 2016 interview on uk s channel 4 news, went on say:

we face not 1 2 global terrorist organisations in environment that’s less stable , more fragmented in 2001.

criticizing american policy

on 6 march 2009, kilcullen published piece on small wars journal titled accidental guerrilla: read before burning. piece responded andrew bacevich s review of kilcullen s book, accidental guerilla: fighting small wars in midst of big one, , addressed criticisms of american administrations. kilcullen wrote:

[m]y views have been on public record years, since before came work government , since before served in field in iraq, afghanistan , pakistan. hired me anyway. , secondly, surprising may be, last administration – present administration – big enough, open enough , intellectually honest enough tolerate and, indeed, welcome constructive criticism , genuine attempts fix policy problems. never found needed moral courage honest opinions – non-partisan honesty secretary rice wanted me, , told me more once. ability tolerate , integrate different opinions, , self-correct, 1 of foremost strengths of our form of government, , suspect true of administrations, though perhaps true of more others.

drone use

kilcullen argues targeted killings drone strikes in afghanistan , pakistan mistake. in 2009 said: these strikes totally counter-productive. strategic error personalize conflict in way, it’ll strengthen enemy , weaken our friends. how can 1 expect civilian population support if kill families , destroy homes.