The Joint Planning and Strategy of the Operation Anaconda

Joint Planning

Joint planning is the coordinated effort of military services and their abilities to accomplish a mission, while considering all possible risks. First came the planning stage, which commenced by identifying multi-national strategic objectives and allied forces end states. Operation Anaconda began on 2 March 2002 and ended on 18 March 2002. Hundreds of al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters were killed and the rest escaped to the Shahikot Valley. This assault allowed for the United States military and the allied forces to take back control of the occupied territory. Eight military soldiers were killed in action and over 50 were wounded. Operation Anaconda was a joint forces mission that still has many unanswered questions 17 years later. Military officials have declared Operation Anaconda a success, but after intense research many historians have labeled it as a mission failure.

Mission Intent

Operation Anaconda was the first major ground assault while fighting the war on terror. This assault was launched against the al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters hiding out in the ShahiKot Valley. Mission intent consisted of terminating or capturing Taliban and Al Qaeda high value targets and their soldiers. Once the terrorist threat was eliminated the U.S. and allied forces would take back control of the Shahi Khot valley.

Joint Forces Collaboration and Planning

Military intelligence reported to General Hagenbeck, who at the time was the Combined Joint Task Force Commander, that there were between 150-200 enemy troops in the surrounding area. Military troops from all over the world, which included Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, France Norway, and Afghanistan, took part in the mission Nearly two thousand U.S. and one thousand Afghan troops battle the militants. All senior leaders agreed upon a codon as the best course of action after heaving bombing of the enemy territory

Communication Failure

Over fifty bombs were supposed to be dropped before ground troops moved in, but less than a quarter of that number was used. Special Operations command failed to communicate their position on the battlefield. A Naval battle ship was diverted to another area before the fighting began and the Air Force commander was briefed less than 48 hours prior to the mission start time.

Conclusion

After many case studies were published on this mission the question still remains. Is Operation Anaconda an American victory or military joint forces failure? Military officials have declared Operation Anaconda a success, but after intense research historians have labeled it as a mission failure.

References

1. Doctrine for the Armed Forces of the United States. (2001). Joint Operations. (Joint Publication 5-0). Retrieved from https://www.jcs.mil/Portals/36/Documents/Doctrine/pubs/jp5_0_20171606.pdf
2. Andres, R. B., & Hukill, J. B. (2017). Anacond a Flawed Joint Planning Process. Retrieved from http://www.au.af.mil/au/afri/aspj/apjinternational/apj-s/2009/3tri09/andreseng.htm
3. Lyle, D. J., MAJ. (2009). Operation Anaconda: Lessons Learned, Or Lessons Observed? Retrieved from https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a502029.pdf
4. Fleri, E., Howard, E., Hukill, J., & Searle, T. R. (2003). Operation Anaconda case study. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: College of Aerospace Doctrine, Research, and Education