What's strange about this paper though, is that the conclusion rules that [in the context of the #Afghanistan withdrawal], drone campaigns *are* a viable alternative to large-scale deployments, though are insufficient to eliminate a terror group outright.
Let's dig into that...
Let's dig into that...
https://twitter.com/Charles_Lister/status/1481987511970930696
The @TXNatSecReview paper's focus is on a drone campaign that benefited from an enormous U.S. & allied deployment in #Afghanistan & an accompanying extensive intelligence network that fed strikes.
With all of that on-side, the campaign was judged good, but far from a success.
With all of that on-side, the campaign was judged good, but far from a success.
@TXNatSecReview So with troops now out of #Afghanistan, the #Taliban in control, and no basing rights for near-proximity drone ops, how can the #FATA drone campaign be used to defend the viability of what's being proposed today -- a [distant] "over horizon" effort with little/no intel network?
@TXNatSecReview What the paper also misses is the unintended consequences of the #FATA drone campaign:
- #AlQaeda's global decentralization;
- Hittin Committee formation;
- A slimmed down AQC, gone-to-ground but still [mostly] capable of strategic oversight over semi-autonomous affiliates.
- #AlQaeda's global decentralization;
- Hittin Committee formation;
- A slimmed down AQC, gone-to-ground but still [mostly] capable of strategic oversight over semi-autonomous affiliates.
@TXNatSecReview In short, as a stand-alone assessment of the #FATA drone campaign, it's a good paper.
But it's attempt to translate its findings directly into today's context in a place like #Afghanistan misses the mark by some margin. There's *a lot* of context missing to achieve that goal.
But it's attempt to translate its findings directly into today's context in a place like #Afghanistan misses the mark by some margin. There's *a lot* of context missing to achieve that goal.
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