CIA Analysis of HVT

According to a 2009 CIA analysis (it was secret until released by WikiLeaks) raids, drones strikes, and other types of military operations against high value Taliban targets had little overall effect. This was, in part, due to the militants ability to replace leaders. Some criticized the 'High Value Target" (HVT) operations as "whack-a-mole"; as soon as you hit one target, another pops up. In addition to the ease that the Taliban enjoyed in replacing leaders was the inability of the Afghan government to expand its counterinsurgency efforts throughout the country effectively. Perhaps the HVT operations would be more effective if done within the context of a successful COIN environment? Read more in "CIA analysis: 'high-value targeting' had limited effect against Taliban", The Washington Post, December 18, 2014.