“A Constant Cat And Mouse Game”: Counter Insurgency Operations In Iraq And Afghanistan

Wes Moerbe, a 2004 graduate of the United States Military Academy, has served in both Iraq and Afghanistan in a variety of roles including Platoon Leader, Company Commander, and MiTT Team Chief. In this interview, he contextualizes his deployments in 2005, 2010, and 2012 within a counter insurgency framework. He describes the differences between Iraq and Afghanistan at various times. In Baghdad in 2005, he notes that they “didn’t recognize the insurgency fight.” By 2010, in Basra, the violence had diminished, and American forces were attempting to enable Iraqi self-sufficiency. In Afghanistan in 2012, he discusses the emphasis on partnered operations. While describing Counter Insurgency operations overseas, he recalls the evolving nature of the threat, changes in the relationship of civilians to the fight, and the implementation of rules of engagement. Finally, he addresses the big picture, proxy conflicts, capabilities, and national security.