How did strategic missteps early in conflicts such as Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan haunt the United States in the long run? General David Petraeus joins Admiral Robert P. Wright to unpack failures in strategic leadership that plagued these wars from the outset. In a wide ranging discussion, he outlines the four key tasks he believes military and civilian leaders must tackle: getting the big ideas right, communicating them effectively, overseeing rigorous implementation, and constantly refining based on evidence and results. With historical depth and personal perspective from commanding troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, Petraeus analyzes Russia's strategic mistakes in invading Ukraine as well. He explains why continued robust aid to Ukraine serves America's national interest in supporting democracies against autocracies aligned with US competitors like China and Iran.

[00:00 - 10:05] - Writing the Book and Strategic Leadership Framework

• Outlines 4 key tasks of strategic leadership
• Applied model to leadership roles in military, sees parallels in business

[10:06 - 25:15] - Vietnam and Iraq Case Studies

• Failure in Vietnam was not understanding population-centric counterinsurgency
• Two phases of Bush's leadership in Iraq war; early strategic missteps
• Petraeus empowered by Bush's direct leadership and oversight during surge

[25:16 - 39:10] - The Long Afghanistan Conflict

• Brilliant initial 2001 campaign but lacked sustainable inputs and strategy
• Still sustainable for US at low troop levels compared to Vietnam
• Biden withdrawal opens door for Taliban, Al Qaeda resurgence

[39:11 - 49:00] - Russia's Invasion of Ukraine

• Zelensky's strategic leadership rallied Ukrainians with powerful messaging
• Russia underestimated resolve and fighting capability of Ukrainian forces
• Petraeus argues continued robust support for Ukraine in US national interest

[49:01 - 50:42] - Key Takeaways on Strategic Leadership

• Importance of understanding context and getting big ideas right
• Communication and implementation matter little without strategic clarity
• Failures often trace back to flaws in initial strategic thinking and leadership

Key Quote:

“We could not win a war of attrition with a country that regarded casualties very, very differently  than we did. “ - General David Petraeus

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