Fairweather emphasizes that military might alone cannot achieve lasting peace or stability. The book illustrates how the Western coalition's reliance on military solutions failed to address the underlying political and social issues in Afghanistan, leading to a prolonged and costly conflict.

"The Good War" delves into the challenges of nation-building in a country with deep-seated cultural, political, and economic issues. Fairweather argues that the Western approach, which often ignored local realities and complexities, was fundamentally flawed and contributed to the failure of the mission.

Fairweather highlights the necessity of understanding and respecting the local context in any intervention. He points out that the Western coalition's lack of knowledge about Afghan society, politics, and culture led to misguided policies and strategies, ultimately undermining their efforts to bring peace and stability to the region.