n Zero-Sum Victory, retired US Army colonel Christopher D. Kolenda identifies three interrelated problems that have emerged from the government’s insistence on zero-sum victory. First, the US government has no way to measure successful outcomes other than a decisive military victory, and thus, selects strategies that overestimate the possibility of such an outcome. Second, the United States is slow to recognize, modify, or abandon losing strategies. Third, once the United States decides to withdraw, bargaining asymmetries and disconnects in strategy undermine the prospects for a successful transition or negotiated outcome.

Introduction -- The past as prologue : the Vietnam War -- Toward a war termination framework -- The pursuit of decisive victory in Afghanistan -- Persisting in a failing approach -- Ending the war in Afghanistan -- Pursuit of decisive victory in Iraq -- Staying the course in Iraq -- Ending the war in Iraq -- Implications.