Thomas H. Henriksen - Americas Wars: Interventions, Regime Change, and Insurgencies after the Cold War

HEW STRACHAN, Professor of International Relations, University of St Andrews and Emeritus Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford

GEOFFREY WAWRO, Professor of Military History, and Director of the Military History Center, University of North Texas

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Thomas H. Henriksen 2022

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First published 2022

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To the Robert and Marion Oster National Security Affairs Fellows Program

A word is necessary about the dedication of this volume to the Robert and Marion Oster National Security Affairs Fellows (NSAF) Program at Stanford Universitys Hoover Institution. The Osters generously put the five-decade-old program on a firm foundation. Each year, the NSAF Program welcomes mid-career military officers and Department of State professionals to the institution for year-long fellowships. The intellectual interchanges between military and diplomatic officers and resident scholars have been an enduring feature of the program. The present volume could not have been written without this interaction with the author. Over the years, representatives from the US Air Force, Army, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard, and State Department have offered knowledge and insights about defense issues as well as diplomatic affairs that have deepened my understanding of a sometimes-arcane subject. They merit my collective salute in gratitude. The NSAF Program is ably headed by Amy Zegart, and she is assisted by Nga-My Nguyen and Taylor McLamb.

I am deeply thankful for those who read all or part of the manuscript, including retired US Army generals H. R. McMaster and William C. Hix, former Green Beret Will Irwin, and Middle East expert Cole Bunzel. The errors remain my own.

My research assistant Cass Kramer was indispensable in myriad ways. He distinguished himself by being my top assistant among dozens of Stanford University students who have worked with me over the decades.

A sincere expression of gratitude is due to the administrative staffs who sustain an ideal environment for research and writing. This thank you starts at the top with the director of the Hoover Institution, Condoleezza Rice, who is a first-rate scholar herself. It extends to many others, including Jeff Jones, Kelly Doran, Rick Jara, Tem Ysmael, Mike Nunes, and Darrell Birton.

The computer experts Dan Wilhelmi, James Shinbashi, and Jamie Walter deserve a special mention, for without their expertise and helpfulness no book-length manuscript would have ever emerged from missing files and the perplexing problems with software and hardware. Members of the personnel and finance staffs Karen Weiss Mulder, John Blancas, Christina Anselm, Juanita Rodriquez, Lea Limgenco, and Silvia Sandoval also played a valuable support role.

Finally, but most importantly, I would like to acknowledge the positive role of my family. My wife, Margaret Mary, provided me with immense support throughout the research and writing of this book as well as the others. I could not have completed this book without her love and encouragement. Our family Heather, Damien, and Lucy provided welcome breaks from the demanding process of writing a book. And my granddaughter, Liv, was an absolute delight throughout the project.

Armed Forces of the Philippines

United States Africa Command

African Union Mission in Somalia

Afghan National Army

Afghan National Defense and Security Forces

al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula

al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb

Abu Sayyaf Group

United States Central Command

Central Intelligence Agency

Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa