Justin Logan on the Afghanistan Study Group
Justin Logan thinks the critics of the Afghanistan Study Group are missing the point:
I am forced to conclude that neither Foust nor Exum understands what strategy is. It is not, pace Foust, induced by piling up mounds of granular operational and tactical detail and then seeing what one can shape out of the pile. Instead, those engaged in strategy must attempt to discern and state clearly the interests at stake (in this case those the United States has in Afghanistan or the region more broadly) and then to attempt to connect the complex chain of ends, ways, and means in order to explain how best to pursue those interests. I thought the report was fairly clear on the task forceâ??s views on Americaâ??s interests and in proposing to bring Americaâ??s exertions better into line with its interests. Thoughtful critiques would engage either on the grounds that the authors have misconstrued (a) Americaâ??s interests, (b) how best to pursue them, or (c) both.
Update: Foust responds to his critics here.
