Hearts, Minds, and Hydras: Fighting Terrorism in Afghanistan, Pakistan, America, and Beyond--Dilemmas and Lessons

Insurgencies are like the hydra, the many-headed beast of Greek mythology. Once one begins, the measures a government takes to eliminate militantsùto cut off the insurgencyAÆs headùcan provoke countless others to join the enemy ranks. Tactical victories often breed strategic de'feats. Traditional ôsearch, destroy, and withdrawö missions that rely on firepower to wipe out reb'els frequently destroy the livelihoods and loved ones of innocent people caught in the cross fire. U.S. troops have s...