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Organisations, Innovation and Security in the Twenty-First Century.

Grant reference: RES-071-27-0069

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Journal article details

COIN machine : the British military in Afghanistan
This article assesses the British military effort in Afghanistan looking at three key elements in the campaign: strategy, military operations, and the inter-agency “Comprehensive Approach.” We start by recognising the scale of the challenge that has faced the British: of all the provinces in Afghanistan, Helmand is the toughest to stabilize and secure. We then examine the evolution of all three elements above and find significant improvements in each: a flawed strategy has been corrected; the military have received more resources and become significantly better at COIN; and there is significant progress in the development of the inter-agency approach. In short, what the Americans will find in Helmand is a British COIN machine; a little creaky perhaps, but one that is fit for purpose and getting the job done. We briefly conclude on the prospects and the key to success: namely the development of a more coherent international strategy that accommodates the challenges posed by both Afghanistan and Pakistan.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.orbis.2009.07.002
10.1016/j.orbis.2009.07.002
English

Primary contributor

Author Theo Farrell

Additional contributors

Co-author Stuart Gordon

Additional details

53
4
Yes
0030-4387
Elsevier
01 September 2009
Paperback
665-683
Amsterdam
Post-print
Orbis

Cite this outcome

Harvard

Farrell, Theo and Gordon, Stuart (2009) COIN machine : the British military in Afghanistan. Orbis. 53 (4), pp. 665-683 Amsterdam: Elsevier.

Vancouver

Farrell Theo and Gordon Stuart. COIN machine : the British military in Afghanistan. Orbis 2009; 53 (4): 665-683.