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Committing Britain to War in Helmand, 2005-06Ten years after British troops entered Afghanistan, a new book dissects the strategic decisions that took the UK to war in Helmand.
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Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies
2011: The RUSI Year
Highlights from the leading UK think tank on defence and security.
2011 has proved to be another busy and exciting year for the Royal United Services Institute. The implications from the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review still dominated the agenda. With the onset of the Arab Spring and the demise of Bin Laden, RUSI provided timely policy responses to the changing landscape in defence and international security.
January
At the beginning of 2011 the defence community was still absorbing the effects and implications of the Strategic Defence and Security Review published in October 2010. To mark the beginning of the year and the continued debate surrounding the SDSR, RUSI held the Future Defence Review conference to discuss many of the strategic questions that remained unanswered. A wide-range of issues were discussed including future force structures, defence expenditure, the international context and reforming the MoD.
The key-note address at the conference was given by Nick Harvey MP, the Minister of State for the Armed Forces. In his speech he emphasised that the Government's task would be to 'drive the transformation of defence' up to 2015 and beyond. He also called for a 'joint endeavour' between the military, civil service and the wider-defence community, including RUSI.
Following on from the RUSI conference on Reserve Forces held on 6 December 2010, RUSI published its conference report Reserves in Transformation in January. The report, authored by RUSI Research Fellow Mark Philips, analysed the current state of Reserve Forces reform and how it was progressing. Phillips was critical of the guidance set out in the 2010 SDSR for the reserve's role and the MoD's 'binary way' of looking at the armed forces.
The major news story of January was the visit to the US by the Chinese premier Hu Jintao. Speculation surrounded the visit, especially what the implications may be for the future of US-China relations in both security, economic and diplomatic fields. RUSI experts were able to provide balanced and expert analysis during the visit. Writing for the BBC, Alexander Neill, Head of the Asia Programme at RUSI, was sceptical about the visit saying that relations were still 'fraught with uncertainty'.
February
The true extent of the uprisings in North Africa and the Middle East became apparent in February as more governments became embroiled in popular dissent. What initially began as domestic unrest in Tunisia spread throughout the region as a mass freedom movement, eventually toppling the regime of Zine Al-Abidine Ben Ali in Tunisia and subsequently President Hosni Mubarak in Egypt. RUSI associate fellow Shashank Joshi, who would be a sought-after commentator throughout the 'Arab Spring', provided in-depth analysis of the events.
Back in the UK, tough decisions on equipment, manning and budgets were still being contemplated by the Ministry of Defence in March, five months after the publication of the SDSR. The promise of twelve new Chinook heavy-lift helicopters looked set to be curbed as spending cuts began to bite at the MoD. Renewed spending cuts looked likely as the department faced 'one of the toughest annual planning rounds in [its] history', according to RUSI Research Fellow Malcolm Chalmers.
February saw the publication of a major new compendium Victory Among People: Lessons from Countering Insurgency and Stabilising Fragile States. In a series of contributions from notable authors and practitioners, the book set out the latest thinking from across the globe on conducting counter-insurgencies and stabilisation operations. Writers included the UK Chief of Defence Staff, General Sir David Richards; Alan Doss, former UN Special Representative and Head of Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo; and a foreword by former Commander of ISAF and US Forces in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal.
The first edition of the 2011 RUSI Journal was published; the issue focused on the ongoing debate around the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review in the UK as well as the renewal of Trident and the operations in Afghanistan. Three former defence representatives from each of the main parties gave their evaluation of the SDSR and its conclusions. The Journal also included the winning entry for the 2010 Trench Gascoigne Essay Prize, written by Lukas Milevski, the essay looked at the collective failure of grand strategy by the west.
March
Unlike his authoritarian counterparts in Egypt and Tunisia, the Libyan dictator Colonel Muamar Qadhafi kept a tight grip on power in Libya and - instead of giving in to protesters demands - began a series of bloody offensives to suppress those who rebelled against his rule. Early in the month the British Prime Minister David Cameron said the international community should consider a no-fly zone over Libya. Barack Seener, a RUSI research fellow told Al-Jazeera that if approved, the no-fly zone should not be 'open ended and subject to review at certain intervals'.
On 23 March the UN Security Council passed Resolution 1973 authorising the use of force to protect citizens of Libya from attack. The resolution paved the way for a substantial military intervention in the country including the use of air and naval assets by US, UK and French forces. Four days into the campaign the British Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, told Parliament that the cost of the conflict would only be in the tens of millions, not hundreds. RUSI, however, questioned this figure raising the estimate to around £100 million within four to six weeks.
The Libya campaign prompted renewed discourse over the SDSR and the wisdom of planned redundancies and spending cuts. Malcolm Chalmers, an expert on defence policy at RUSI, told The Guardian that the biggest costs during the Libya campaign will be the use of air assets, which would hinder the MoD's ability to balance its books for 2011-12.
March also saw a number of high-profile figures speak at the institute on security challenges both at home and abroad. The Shadow Defence Secretary gave his first detailed policy speech at RUSI, titled 'Afghanistan: Lessons for the future'. In his speech Jim Murphy MP told members that the UK must retain a proactive and strong defence policy and avoid a 'state of ambivalence' after the bloody conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Security minister Baroness Neville-Jones also spoke at the 'Terrorism: Emerging Threats and UK Responses' Conference.
To conclude a busy month at the institute, General David H. Petraeus, Commander of the NATO International Security Assistance Force and US Forces in Afghanistan, provided an update on operations in Afghanistan. His speech also commented on the overall strategy being employed by the International Security Assistance Force and the plan for Afghanistan to assume responsibility for its own security in 2014.
April
The uprising against Colonel Qadhafi's regime and the intervention by western forces continued throughout April in Libya with little sign of abating. At the end of March operations were handed over from US commanders to NATO in an effort to spread responsibility across the alliance and for the US to scale back its role in the conflict. The period also saw high-profile defections from the Qadhafi government including the Minister of Foreign Affairs Moussa Koussa. RUSI Associate Fellow Shashank Joshi analysed the defection of Koussa for the Al Jazeera news channel.
Meanwhile, politicians back in the UK continued to play down reports that the Libya campaign would lead to extra cuts in the armed forces. Despite attempts to cut the MoD's budget following the SDSR in October 2010, a £1 billion funding-gap still existed. A deal was finally settled between the Treasury and the MoD to help alleviate budgetary pressures building up due to the funding-gap. But analysts were critical of any short-term measure, Malcolm Chalmers, a Research Fellow at RUSI, told the BBC that the books will be balanced for 2011 but 'it doesn't address the medium-term funding gap'.
The second issue of RUSI's flagship journal was published during April 2011. The journal included selected writings from authors such as Shashank Joshi, Paul Meyer, Margaret Gilmore and Marco Wyss. The themes included the 2010 London Olympics, Geostrategy and Europe, the Arab Spring and strategy in the Pacific and South China Sea. Other publications included 'Insecure Skies? Challenges and Options for Change in Civil Aviation Security' analysing the hearings of the Coroner;s Inquests into the July 7 bombings and 'Insecure Skies? Challenges and Options for Change in Civil Aviation Security ' looking at global aviation security.
May
After almost ten years as America's most wanted man, Osama Bin Laden was finally tracked down and killed in Pakistan by US special forces. The Al-Qa'ida leader was shot dead in a night time raid on a compound close to Islamabad. The nature of the raid, as well as the location of Bin Laden so close to Pakistani security forces raised serious questions about future relations between Islamabad and Washington. In an exclusive video for RUSI, Professor Michael Clarke, Dr. Tobias Feakin, Barack Seener and Alexander Neill sat down to discuss the implications of Bin Laden's death.
Libya continued to make headlines throughout May as the conflict descended into a bloody stalemate between the opposing forces. The targeting of Saif al-Arab Qadhafi, Colonel Qadhafi's son, in an air-strike raised serious questions about the direction and tactics employed by NATO forces enforcing the no-fly zone. In an apparent escalation, France and the UK deployed attack helicopters in order to increase the effectiveness of NATO forces protecting rebels. Yet uncertainties remained as to whether the escalation would really have an effect on the overall direction of the campaign. Forward-looking perspectives and analysis were given by fellows at the institute.
Continuing RUSI's long standing research into the development of land forces, the head of Land Operations and Capabilities at RUSI, Mark Philips, authored a new occasional paper entitled Exercise Agile Warrior and the Future Development of UK Land Forces. This occasional paper contributed to the MoD's Force Development and Training Command 'evidence base'.
June
To celebrate 180 years since its creation by the Duke of Wellington, RUSI held a series of activities and events in June to promote the anniversary. RUSI marked the occasion by highlighting its achievements, the debates and lectures that have been enshrined in history and those influential thinkers and leaders who have contributed in many ways to the institute. In particular, RUSI published a brand new book Between Peace and War: British Defence and the Royal United Services Institute, 1831-2010. Written by Damian P O'Connor the book charts the history of the institute as it followed - and continues to follow - the undulating path of British defence and security policy.
A special video also highlighted what influential figures in the military, politics, academia and media think about the institute and the influential nature of its research throughout its existence. The commentators included the Chief of General Staff, General Sir David Richards, Professor Sir Michael Howard and Channel 4 news presenter Jon Snow.
RUSI welcomed two of the most prominent defence figures in June to speak at the institute. NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen spoke at RUSI's annual Missile Defence Conference and General Martin Dempsey, now Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke at the RUSI Land Warfare Conference.
To recognise the considerable achievements of authors writing defence and security literature, RUSI awarded its annual Duke of Westminster's Medal for Military Literature in June. This year the author Sir Rodric Braithwaite won the accolade for his book 'Afghantsy: The Russians in Afghanistan 1979-89'. Based on first-hand accounts from those closest to the Russian invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, Braithwaite has provided one of the most comprehensive books on the conflict to date.
July
The then Secretary of State for Defence, Liam Fox MP spoke at the Chief of the Air Staff's Air Power conference at RUSI. Liam Fox used the speech to praise the personnel in the armed forces, especially the Royal Air Force. The ongoing operations, and the reliance on air assets, in Libya gave the speech added prescience, Fox said the RAF had 'the most capable and dedicated men and women in the Armed Forces.' The Chief of the Air Staff, Sir Stephen Dalton also delivered the key-note address emphasising the need for greater fiscal management in order to achieve the goals set out for Future Force 2020.
Watch Liam Fox's speech below >
Other top cabinet speakers in July included the Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne and Home Secretary Theresa May. The Home Secretary chose RUSI as a platform to launch a new iteration of the Government's prevention strategy. This strategy was analysed on RUSI.org by our experts who suggested that the new iteration, and the overall strategy, lacked a mechanism for robust evaluation.
August
After nearly seven months of bloody fighting, Colonel Qadhafi's regime finally fell to rebel forces in August. The whereabouts of Qadhafi's sons, close officials, and the dictator himself, remained unknown. RUSI Director-General Michael Clarke predicted that Qadhafi was likely to be found 'hanging from a lamp post' rather than being put on trial. He also told The Telegraph newspaper that the conflict was in its final stages and the political process - rather than military - was now priority. Shashank Joshi, a pre-eminent commentator on the conflict, wrote that this political process could flounder on 'the cross-cutting tribal, religious and regional fault-lines of Libya's war'.
August also saw the worst social unrest to hit the UK for nearly a generation as riots broke out across the country. In exclusive analysis for RUSI.org, Dr. Tobias Feakin examined why the police should remain in charge of tackling the unrest rather than drafting in the army. The restoration of order, Dr. Tobias Feakin wrote, is the 'job of the police and the judicial system' and this should lead to broader societal questions 
about the violence. Valentina Soria warned that the break down in law and order should be seen as a 'wake-up call' for the UK's security services ahead of the Olympics.
RUSI published its August edition of the Journal, focusing on the upcoming 10 year anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The Journal invited eminent policy-makers, academics and commentators to offer their thoughts on the significance of 9/11 for the US, Europe and beyond. Contributors included John Nagl, Anne-Marie Slaughter, Stephen Fidler and Professor Jack Spence.
September
This month, people around the world remembered the tragic events of 11 September 2011. The RUSI website brought together collections of writings including exclusive content by experts in defence and security. John Esposito of Georgetown University analysed the fractured relationship that had developed between the West and the Muslim world since 9/11. Terrorism experts at the Institute provided a detailed look at how the terrorist threat has 'morphed' over the decade and the way intelligence agencies have had to change their modus operandi.
After the fall of Colonel Qadhafi in Libya, RUSI released its influential interim report Accidental Heroes: Britain, France and the Libya Operation. The report brought together expert analysis from across the institute and looked at the wider spectrum of operations from both the NATO and rebel side. This RUSI Interim Campaign Report analysed how the operation progressed and finally succeeded in toppling the regime of Colonel Qadhafi. Its analysis added to the ongoing debate surrounding the intervention of NATO and the report's conclusion, that the UK and France 'relied on luck' rather than judgement, was widely reported in the media.
In September RUSI also published Looking into the Black Hole: Is the UK Defence Budget Crisis Really Over? written by Malcolm Chalmers. The Briefing Paper informed the defence debate on the controversial subject of the MoD's 'funding gap'. Chalmers' findings suggested that the MoD had been able to balance its unwieldy budget and a funding gap of £74 million. But the Paper also identified several key areas where the MoD will face problems in the future including procurement projects like the Joint Strike Fighter, the Type-23 Frigate and the replacement to Trident.
RUSI marked the expected Palestinian bid for statehood in September with a conference looking at the implications for the region. The event brought together representatives from Israel and Palestine to make their cases to the international community. They were also been joined by prominent British and American experts on the Middle East Peace Process. Mindful of the polarised nature of the debate, and the deeply held views on both sides, RUSI sought to provide a neutral platform for discussion for all sides.
Watch the highlights of this landmark conference >
October
RUSI celebrated being named, along with Chatham House, 2011's Best Foreign Affairs Think Tank based in the UK. The award was given by Prospect magazine at their annual Think Tank Awards. RUSI was commended for its work on the Strategic Defence and Security Review as well as its work on China. This year's prize is the third occasion that RUSI has won a prestigious Prospect Think Tank Award. In 2008 RUSI won the Think Tank of the Year Award and in 2009 was named Foreign Policy Think Tank of the Year.
RUSI continued informing the defence community with two more publications in October. The British Way of Strategy-Making: Vital Lessons For Our Times argued that the muddling of military and civilian roles in the higher management of defence has increasingly blurred a correct and precise understanding of the different but complementary roles of grand strategy, operational strategy and government policy.
The second paper published was The Global Partnership about Weapons of Mass Destruction: Success and Shortcomings of G8 Threat Reduction since 9/11. This RUSI Whitehall Paper written by Alan Heyes, Wyn Q Bowen and Hugh Chalmers looked at how the 9/11 terrorist attacks prompted a new urgency in efforts to deal with chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear proliferation. The paper said that the potential acquisition and use by terrorist groups of such weaponry was suddenly a much increased threat.
The latest issue of RUSI's flagship publication turned its gaze towards South Asia, examining nuclear security on the subcontinent and India's need for defence reform. As the world heads towards nuclear stability at low numbers of warheads, both Pakistan and India and their nuclear experience provide important lessons.
November
The Chairman of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey, delivered the After Dinner Speech for RUSI's Women in Defence Conference in November. The dinner was held to inaugurate RUSI's landmark conference to focus on the top brass, trailblazing women from the Armed Forces, Government and Industry Technology, Intelligence, the Law, Homeland Security, Space and Cyber world. The conference showcased the formidable force that the talent, skill and leadership of these women represent in what proved to be an exciting and innovative conference.
RUSI introduced its brand-new series of Analysis Podcasts. The podcasts are free audio interviews with experts assessing current events that are effecting world security. Access the full archives of Analysis Podcasts on ITunes here.
The Institute continued to publish leading research and contemporary analysis. The latest edition of RUSI Defence Systems was released which included interviews with the UK's Chief of Defence Materiel Bernard Grey and Defence Minister Peter Luff. The RUSI Occasional Paper Blue Light Air Assets: Cost-effective Operations for the Future was released, and members of the Climate Change Programme launched Climate Change, Migration and Security: Best Practice Policy and Operations Options for Mexico in Mexico City.
Ross Kemp, the actor famous for his documentaries covering the British deployment to Afghanistan, spoke to members of the institute along with the co-founder of Help for Heroes, Bryn Parry. The same month also saw His Royal Highness Prince El Hassan bin Talal of Jordan speak to RUSI. In his speech he explored the extent to which military hardware alone can stop terrorism and the degree to which economic opportunity, institution building and energy security can promote peace in the Middle East.
December
With 2011 drawing to a close and global uncertainties seemingly on the rise, RUSI.org asked experts across the defence and security community to give their perspectives for 2012. This exclusive content looked at a range of issues including Afghanistan, the Middle East, Europe and China. The articles examined just how these issues could become the next source of conflict in the upcoming year. Contributors included the Director-General Michael Clarke, Associate Fellow Shashank Joshi, Research Fellow Alexander Neill and many more.
Read more perspectives: www.rusi.org/2012
On 20 December RUSI released a new book, The Afghan Papers: Committing Britain to War in Helmand, 2005-06. The Afghan Papers is a compilation of essays and is the result of private interviews and frank analysis by some of the most important actors in the fateful decision to deploy to Helmand. RUSI also published the December issue of the Journal which focused on the continuing threat of piracy off the coast of Somalia, a threat that has so far defied the international community's lukewarm attempts to solve it.
Philip Hammond MP delivered his first public speech as the Secretary of State for Defence in December. The Defence Secretary used the opportunity to make key policy announcements and give a direction to UK Defence policy in the year ahead. Significantly, he announced that the cost of the Libya operation was actually less than initially envisaged and that woman would begin serving on submarines from 2013.
To finish off a busy and exciting year for the Institute, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Sir David Richards gave his annual Christmas lecture for RUSI members. The sold-out event was an opportunity for General Richards to reflect on the year that has passed, while also looking to the future and the prospects for 2012. In his speech the CDS praised the work of the armed forces and their families for their tireless effort both at home and on operations. But his speech was also warned that the economy, more than anything, remains the 'biggest strategic threat' to the United Kingdom.
Compiled by Grant Turnbull.
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