People Make the City,'' Executive Summary: Joint Urban Operations Observations and Insights from Afghanistan and Iraq

Research Summary

q       Though the urban operations document of the U.S. was published in 2002, it could be really tested only in the ongoing operations in the villages, towns, and cities of Afghanistan and Iraq.

q       The executive summary ventures to provide a top-line synthesis of the observations and insights arising from the joint urban operations during OEF in Afghanistan and OIF in Iraq.

q       The main concern of the study is to list out the tools that will enable military and civilian alike to meet national policy objectives best through more effective conduct of urban combat and restoration, drawn from the interviews with armed forces involved in the restoration works in Iraq.

q       The report notes that orchestrating urban military and civil activities in support of strategic objectives is fundamental to national and coalition success.

q       Further, it is only the urban operations that increasingly characterize the general character of U.S. and coalition undertakings.

q       The importance of cities as social, economic, diplomatic, cultural, transportation, and other types of hubs necessitates the military forces for operations in these areas with respect to maintaining infra-structure support, coordinating media-requirements, and dealing with demographic groups.

q       The core of the report effectively summarizes and expands each of the 25 observations and highlights organized using the joint urban doctrine operational construct of understand, shape, engage, consolidate, and transition (USECT).

q       A value-addition to this also lists out certain most important tactical observations that have direct operational or strategic impact.

q       Projecting the study forward, the report points ahead suggesting how the past should influence preparations for the future with respect to concept, master plan conceptualizations and approaches.

q       With respect to both immediate future and the longer-term concerns, this study will be of great help to governments, NGOs, volunteers, and the commercial sector involved in planning, policy, doctrine, training, and the operations in or near urban areas.

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