Failure Factor #5: The danger of an “outside country” trying to stop insurgent activities in a “subject country” via an incremental, piecemeal approach that begins with a half hearted military effort which is run in parallel with humanitarian gestures of immense value to those who are suffering, but of little value in solving the underlying problem.

In fighting wars, incrementalism has no place. All it does is play to Failure Factors #1 - #4, forcing the “outside country” to stay the course when a) it never should have entered the conflict in the first place, or if it did b) it should have gone in in full force, with all guns blazing, while at the same time it took over the “subject country” with the intent of running it until the problem was solved… at which time it could then institute a multi-decade long plan to install in the “subject country” a functioning government acceptable to the citizens of that country.

Note the key elements required to achieve success: 1) Stay out of the fracas or go in with guns blazing. 2) If you go in then take over the country and run it until you win the war. 3) Once you win the war, spend the next 30 - 50 years building a functioning government able to be run by the citizens of the country. When you have done all of that, then go home.

For references regarding the successful application of this policy: see Japan, South Korea and/or Germany. For references of the failure to even attempt to apply this policy, see Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq.