“The Army has drafted a new operations manual that elevates the mission of stabilizing war-torn nations, making it equal in importance to defeating adversaries on the battlefield. …’Army doctrine now equally weights tasks dealing with the population–stability or civil support–with those related to offensive and defensive operations,’ the manual states. ‘Winning battles and engagements is important but alone is not sufficient. Shaping the civil situation is just as important to success.’ ”
– Michael R. Gordon, “After Hard-Won Lessons, Army Doctrine Revised,” The New York Times, Feb. 8, 2008