Maintaining Freedom of Action: Civil Affairs and Consequence Management in Afghanistan

AI Summary

The article examines how Civil Affairs support helped U.S. Special Operations Forces manage unintended civilian consequences of military operations in Afghanistan. It discusses assessment, culturally informed engagement, coordination, and command involvement as tools for consequence management and preserving freedom of action.

Abstract This article draws on Civil Affairs support to US Special Operations Forces in Afghanistan in maintaining a commander’s freedom of action by helping mitigate the unintended civil consequences of military operations. It examines consequence management as part of a broader process of assessment, culturally informed engagement, coordination, and command involvement. This article also argues that lessons learned from Afghanistan … Read more The post Maintaining Freedom of Action: Civil Affairs and Consequence Management in Afghanistan appeared first on Small Wars Journal by Arizona State University.