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Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies
Operational Commitments and Future Contingencies
An examination of the UK Armed Forces' significant operational deployments following the 1998 Strategic Defence Review provides the opportunity to consider the lessons offered by these conflicts and their relevance to the future. Leading military and academic commentators assess the likely security challenges and contingencies to be faced by UK defence planners.
Jointery and the Emerging Defence Review
By Trevor Taylor
Working Paper Number 4
6 November 2009
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Lessons Unlearned: A Former Officer's Perspective on the British Army at War
The British Army’s conformist, orthodox culture has sapped its capacity for reflection and reform. A new ethos of creative tension is needed to reinvigorate the British military. (June 2009)
By Patrick Little
COIN Machine: The British Military in Afghanistan Britain’s Vietnam? Learning the Lessons of Operation Telic Defence in a Changed Climate The Land Environment - Moving Towards 2018 Strategy as a Balancing Act: The UK's Dilemma
British troops have overcome difficult and unique challenges in Afghanistan thanks to more resources and favourable counter-insurgency learning curve. UK forces have become a ‘COIN machine’ getting the job done. (June 2009)
By Theo Farrell and Stuart Gordon
The undoubted bravery and professionalism of British troops in Iraq disguised the deeper strategic failings of their mission. Leaders need to learn from the mistakes in Basra as we now concentrate in Afghanistan (Apr 2009).
By Anthony King
Assessing Britain’s Legacy: The UK Withdrawal from Iraq
As the UK announces its withdrawal from Iraq, an overall judgement of its deployment should be a favourable one. Although it has become clear that the softer British approach is no longer appropriate, the UK contingent has made significant progress in preparing the Iraqis to cope with their own security. (Dec 2008)
By Alastair Campbell
This article examines the impact of climate change on future conflicts and defence planning (Oct 2008).
By Clive Murgatroyd
The Chief of the General Staff of the British Army gives an indication as to the direction of travel for the British Army over the next ten years. (Aug 2008)
By Richard Dannatt
If the UK continues to unbalance its forces to better fight today’s wars, it risks losing the wars of the future. But if it does not do so, it will probably lose today’s. Which is the greater priority? (June 2008)
By Hew Strachan
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The latest working paper analyses ‘Jointery’, the development of co-ordination and integration of elements from the three armed services of the United Kingdom. The paper suggests ‘movement towards greater service co-ordination and integration has deep roots but evolution appears to have halted’ and calls for this to be examined in the forthcoming green paper and subsequent Defence Review.
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