Summary of Gayle Tzemach Lemmon's Ashley's War

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 The American war in Afghanistan was the longest in American history, and Special Operations Commander Eric Olson wanted to change the way American forces gathered micro-knowledge about the local population and culture. #2 Special operations forces were instrumental in the success of Operation Desert Storm in the 1990s, and have been used extensively in the war on terror since. However, Olson believed that America was never going to kill its way to victory in Afghanistan, and needed to learn to think its way through a fight. #3 The military’s incentives, Olson felt, were to reward hard skills over deep knowledge. And the most knowledgeable members of the military’s elite special operations teams in Afghanistan were still missing a huge chunk of intel about the enemy they were fighting and the people they were there to protect. #4 The role of women in Afghanistan is critical. Afghan women were able to exchange information about what was happening in their households, which the American soldiers were unable to do due to their lack of access to women.