Stability Operations... new?

The US Army has released their new manual on stability operations that gives the same weight to stability operations that the Army gives offense and defense.

The US Army released its first field manual on 'stability operations' Monday, drawing on lessons learned from the military's failure to prepare for aftermath of the US invasion of Iraq.
The manual, which follows a manual on counter-insurgency warfare released in 2006, was prepared in response to a directive in 2005 elevating stability operations to a core mission for the army in an 'era of persistent conflict.'

While there will no doubt much wailing and gnashing of teeth by many 'old-school' Army officers about the change in focus away from stand-up combat, the reality of the US military history is that there's no shortage of stability, peacekeeping, peacemaking, and civil administration.
For more, check out the excellent book A Country Made by War, by Geoffrey Perret

By: Brant