Strategic failure in Iraq: The potential impact  By Jeff Moore
  |   June 22, 2014 at 1:13 PM   |   Comments  | License Photo
WASHINGTON, June 21 (UPI) -- The Islamic State in Iraq and the
Levant's (ISIS) march through Iraq and seizure of some 20 cities
represents the Obama Administration's lack of understanding of
irregular warfare, the main type of threat facing U.S. interests
in multiple spots around the globe. There's no hiding from them,
however. If the more critical of these threats aren't dealt
with, Americans should brace themselves.  The administration's
lack comprehension of irregular warfare -- insurgency,
terrorism, and asymmetric threats – has resulted in two
strategic blunders in Iraq. First was assuming the war ended
when America left. It didn't. Insurgencies never end cleanly.
Most take years to stabilize even after major combat operations
cease, mostly because of ideological issues.  Second was a
failure to exercise "counterinsurgency (COIN) follow through," a
critical and basic tenet of COIN