Training for Victory: U.S. Special Forces Advisory Operations from El Salvador to Afghanistan

One of the most difficult security challenges of the post-Cold War era has been stabilizing failing states in an era of irregular warfare. A component of the strategy to address this problem has been security force assistance where outside powers train and advise the host nation's military. Despite billions spent, thousands of advisors, and innumerable casualties, the American efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq failed. Among those colossal military disasters were pockets of success.



Frank K. So...