Regeena Kingsley
Doctor of Philosophy, (Defence and Security)
Study Completed: 2015
College of Humanities & Social Sciences
Citation
Thesis Title
Fighting Against Allies: An Examination of "National Caveats" within the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Campaign in Afghanistan & their Impact on ISAF Operational Effectiveness 2002-2012
Read article at Massey Research Online: 
This research is the first in-depth, academic examination of “national caveats” and their effects within multinational security operations. National caveats are restrictive, classified, rules of engagement imposed by governments on national military contingents. Drawing from recently released information, including the Wikileaks cache of American diplomatic cables, Ms Kingsley investigated national caveats within the multinational NATO-led ISAF operation in Afghanistan, over a decade of warfare between 2002-2012. Focusing on ISAF security forces, the extent of the caveat problem within the mission, and the tangible impact of the caveats on security operations were analysed. The fundamental military principle of “unity of effort” was also used as an analytical lens to assess the caveat impact on overall operational effectiveness. Ms Kingsley found that national caveats were pervasive, had a detrimental impact on security operations, crippled combat forces, helped the Enemy, divided allies, and created disunity of effort which undermined ISAF operational effectiveness.
Supervisors
Professor Bethan Greener