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An exit strategy is a means of escaping one's current situation, typically an unfavourable situation. An organization or individual without an exit strategy may be in a quagmire. At worst, an exit strategy will save face; at best, an exit strategy will peg a withdrawal to the achievement of an objective worth more than the cost of continued involvement.

In warfare

In military strategy an exit strategy is understood to minimize what military jargon calls blood and treasure (lives and matériel).

The term was used technically in internal Pentagon critiques of the Vietnam War (cf. President Richard Nixon's promise of peace with honor), but remained obscure until the Battle of Mogadishu, Somalia when the U.S. military involvement in that U.N. peacekeeping operation cost the lives of U.S. troops without a clear objective. Republican critics of President Bill Clinton derided him for having no exit strategy, although he had inherited an active military operation from his predecessor, President George H. W. Bush. The criticism was revived later against the U.S. involvement in the Yugoslav wars, including peacekeeping operations in Bosnia and Kosovo and the Kosovo war against Serbia.

The term has been adopted by critics of U.S. involvement in Afghanistan and especially Iraq. President George W. Bush was said to have no exit strategy to remove troops from Iraq, and critics worried about the number of Coalition soldiers and Iraqi civilians who would suffer injury or death as a result.

In business

In interpersonal communication

An exit strategy is usually a kind or discreet way of hinting that you or someone else needs to leave-although it is not always so kind and discreet. Examples of exit strategies include inching toward the door, checking your watch, acting like you have another call, yawning, a change in tone of voice, playing with coat, glancing at the door, and putting shoes on.

Interpersonally competent people pick up on these hints.

External links

• 1993 White House press briefing - quoting Brent Scowcroft on exit strategy
• Sample Exit Strategy

• Military
• Strategic management
• Entrepreneurship