Abstract
This chapter identifies two aspects in the variable “time” to address unintended impact on a strategy: Short versus long term focus and predictability. The International Security Stabilisation Force’s focus on the tactical level successes to secure that the short term objectives is reached has gradually changed the objective on the grand strategy level clouding the end state. At the same time the predictability focus contributed to prioritization of short-term tactical objectives, as they were easier to benchmark rather than grand strategic objectives. This changed the end state from eradication of the Taliban to nation-building to transition of security responsibilities. The result is a strategy that has become focused on tactical level objective. This has blurred the understanding of the end state in a pursuit of tactical successes.
One of NATO’s key challenges in Afghanistan is the International Security Assistance Force’s (ISAF) focus on short-term successes at the tactical level instead of on the military strategy’s end state. This misleading focus has led to changes in the military strategy wasting already vested resources and achieved objectives and made it difficult to argue whether or not the military mission in Afghanistan is a success. First, this chapter discusses military strategy and the composition of the ISAF, aiming to use analytical perspectives, which derive from the key strategic variable “time” as described in chapter 2.1 The perspectives are long-term/short-term focus and predictability. In the conclusion of the chapter, strategy makers are recommended to renew their focus on the military strategy’s end state and the feedback mechanism in order to make the end state clear and obtainable and hinder short-term focus from neagtively influencing the strategy’s end state.