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Home > Open Access Journals > JSS > Vol. 13 > No. 1 (2020)

 

Author Biography

Jahara “Franky” Matisek (Corresponding Author) is an active duty officer in the US Air Force, currently serving as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Military and Strategic Studies at the US Air Force Academy. He holds a PhD in Political Science from Northwestern University and is a two-time (2018-2019 & 2019-2020) Non-Resident Fellow with the Modern War Institute at West Point.

Dr. Ryan Burke is an associate professor and curriculum director in the Department of Military & Strategic Studies at the US Air Force Academy. He is a 2019-2020 Non-Resident Fellow with the Modern War Institute at West Point and a veteran Marine Corps officer. He writes on military-involved domestic and international support operations; defense policy; and most recently, polar militarization.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5038/1944-0472.13.1.1771

Subject Area Keywords

Afghanistan, Al-Qaida, Counterinsurgency, Foreign policy, International security, Iraq, Middle East, Security policy, Terrorism / counterterrorism, War studies

Abstract

The logic of the American approach to the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and now Syria – both in policy and practice – bears striking resemblance to the U.S. approach to Vietnam in the 1960s and 1970s. Despite policies of restraint, it has proven difficult to stop the inertia of war, be it against Communism or terrorism. As this inertia grows, so too does illogical entanglement. Such deepening involvement, whether in Vietnam or the Global War on Terror, often results in combat forces undertaking nation- and state-building missions that they are not designed for, yet have been doing for almost two decades.

Disclaimer

The views expressed in this article are their own views and do not reflect those of the U.S. government, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force Academy, or U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

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