Iraq lessons learned applied to Afghanistan

Small Wars Journal:

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(1) Basic COIN principles of protecting the population, connecting the government with the people and permanently isolating insurgents from the population apply in either conflict but must be adapted for local conditions.

(2) Shift emphasis from top-down (strong central government) to bottom-up (locally provided security) to leverage tribal structure in Afghanistan.

(3) Seek neither to apply directly the Anbar strategy to Afghanistan nor simply surge more forces; more troops (2–4 BCTs) are unlikely to measurably change the effort with the current strategy.

(4) Increase efforts in advisory and PRT initiatives to enhance Afghan capabilities.

(5) Put an Afghan face on all CERP. Use Jirgas to solicit needs from the local populace to bolster local government entities.

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CERP has to do with funding projects in the area that is being pacified. I think (1) and (2) are the most important in terms of what has to be done first. One of the lessons learned during the turn around in Iraq is that bottom up grass roots reconciliation is much more powerful and effective than the top down style favored by the Democrats. I don't think you can do it with a top down approach and it is more likely to result in corruption by officials and corruption of the effort.

There is more at the link above. This is a pretty good summary of how we turned it around in Iraq.