This title examines the deleterious effects of the U.S. failure to focus on protecting the Iraqi population for most of the military campaign in Iraq and analyzes the failure of a technologically driven counterinsurgency (COIN) approach. It outlines strategic considerations relative to COIN; presents an overview of the conflict in Iraq; describes implications for future operations; and, offers recommendations to improve the U.S. capability to conduct COIN.This title presents implications of failure to protect local populations in counterinsurgency (COIN) operations, overreliance on technology, and lack of a coherent COIN approach, along with strategic considerations in and recommendations to improve U.S. COIN capability.