When fighting the insurgency in Iraq, the Coalition suffered an
operational, if not strategic, surprise in the form of the IED threat.
To deal with that surprise, both the United States and Australia needed
to make institutional responses in a cycle that took at least 6 years.
The subsequent impact of IEDs in Afghanistan suggests, in fact, that the
response is still incomplete. To minimize their impact, it is critical
that surprises be recognized quickly and responses initiated swiftly,
especially for those in contact. It may take the appointment of new
leadership to achieve the necessary impetus in the recovery. (Originally
published by the Strategic Studies Institute)