A lack of critical thinking and structured analysis led to flawed findings in military assessments.

Evidence

Learning from the Struggle to Assess Counterinsurgency and Stabilization Operations (NDU Press)

Categorization

• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim
• XREF: connects to: American military reports were overly optimistic and non-critical. — Neil Sheehan, A Bright Shining Lie, 825; The Army could not produce a cost analysis supporting its changed basing decision; Top military commanders make basing decisions without access to cost data or alternatives analysis.