oil-spot strategy
n.— «U.S. and Iraqi forces should adopt an “oil-spot strategy” in Iraq, which is essentially the opposite approach. Rather than focusing on killing insurgents, they should concentrate on providing security and opportunity to the Iraqi people, thereby denying insurgents the popular support they need. Since the U.S. and Iraqi armies cannot guarantee security to all of Iraq simultaneously, they should start by focusing on certain key areas and then, over time, broadening the effort—hence the image of an expanding oil spot.» —“How to Win in Iraq” by Andrew F. Krepinevich, Jr. Foreign Affairs Sept.-Oct., 2005. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
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