Cassidy says his book explores the reasons the insurgencies arose and examines the responses to them during that ten year-period.
“The U.S. and its coalition partners dedicated a significant amount of time and effort to stabilize the region,” said Cassidy. “But the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban insurgencies grew in strength. I write about ‘what happened?’”
According to Cassidy, “War, Will, and Warlords” looks at the support for insurgent groups in Afghanistan and Pakistan since the 1970s, support that also helps explain the rise to power of the Pakistan-supported Taliban emirate from 1996 to 2001. The book also studies the tribal areas on the border between the two countries and how the activities in those areas influence the region’s stability and U.S. security.
“There are reasons for the resurgence of the insurgency in Afghanistan and the emergence of one in neighboring Pakistan,” said Cassidy. “I wanted this book to explore the details of what happened during this ten-year-plus period and address the strategy and policy implications for the strategic objectives in Afghanistan and Pakistan.”
One person who read an advanced copy of Cassidy’s book is U.S. Army War College Commandant Maj. Gen. Gregg Martin.
"This work provides a clear, concise, and well-documented analysis of the complex cross-border counterinsurgency that is at the center of U.S. military operations in South-Central Asia," said Martin in an email. "It provides a careful and insightful evaluation of U.S. and Pakistan counterinsurgency operations and recommendations about how to apply methods that have proven successful. Col. Cassidy is a Soldier-Scholar whose keen strategic leader perspectives make this book essential reading for anyone interested in understanding the challenges and opportunities that characterize the current and future struggle."
Cassidy is a senior fellow with the Center for Advanced Defense Studies. Before joining the faculty at the U.S. Naval War College, he served as a special assistant to the senior operational commander in Afghanistan. Cassidy has published a number of articles and two previous books on stability operations and irregular war. He has a Ph.D. from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.