RAND: Archive: Counterinsurgency 2009-02-15T14:21:54Z Copyright (c) 2007-2008, The RAND Corporation Bricolage RAND Corporation urn:uuid:09701E44-F6D5-11DD-8200-12D538788F35 Meeting America's Security Challenges Beyond Iraq urn:uuid:F8BAFCF6-692E-11DD-A739-58C038788F35 2008-09-18T03:00:00Z 2008-09-18T03:00:00Z In a conference cohosted by RAND and the Center for Naval Analyses Corporation, members of the U.S. defense community discussed approaches to meeting the challenges of a demanding future security environment. Dangerous Thresholds: Managing Escalation in the 21st Century urn:uuid:4A721F92-4EAF-11DD-B037-E4D638788F35 2008-08-25T03:00:00Z 2008-08-25T03:00:00Z Historical examples and the analysis of two modified Delphi exercises augment an examination of approaches to escalation management within the demands of today’s security environment and its attendant threats involving not only long-standing nuclear powers, but also insurgent groups and terrorists. DoD Should Consider Nonmilitary Means to Advance U.S. National Security Interests urn:uuid:E1CF14E8-5FF9-11DD-AED7-DAEA38788F35 2008-08-13T03:00:00Z 2008-08-13T03:00:00Z The nature of recent challenges and the types of missions the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has undertaken highlight the need for training DoD personnel in the simultaneous use of different types of tools, military and otherwise. U.S. Should Rethink "War On Terrorism" Strategy to Deal with Resurgent Al Qaida urn:uuid:530FC050-63AE-11DD-BD88-DAEA38788F35 2008-07-29T03:00:00Z 2008-07-29T03:00:00Z Current U.S. strategy against terrorist organization al Qaida has not been successful at limiting the group's capabilities. Since Sept. 11, 2001, al Qaida has been involved in more terrorist attacks than ever before, spanning an increasingly broader range of targets. U.S. Efforts in Afghanistan Will Fail If Taliban Not Routed from Pakistan urn:uuid:B64EC20C-1DC1-11DD-A9A0-E1BD38788F35 2008-06-09T03:00:00Z 2008-06-09T03:00:00Z If Taliban sanctuary bases in Pakistan are not eliminated, the United States and its NATO allies will face crippling long-term consequences in their effort to stabilize and rebuild Afghanistan. U.S. Military Prone to Operations Not in Accord with COIN Doctrine urn:uuid:029346DA-21AD-11DD-A3FC-E1BD38788F35 2008-06-04T03:00:00Z 2008-06-04T03:00:00Z Similarities between the Vietnam War and current Middle East operations reveal our military is apt to engage in traditional warfare despite the more nuanced tactics called for by counter-insurgency doctrine. Breaking the Failed-State Cycle urn:uuid:3847EA7E-04D4-11DD-BC45-E1BD38788F35 2008-05-27T03:00:00Z 2008-05-27T03:00:00Z The predominant threat to U.S. security in the 21st century comes not from the actions of opposing countries but from the fallout of collapsing ones. The world’s leading states can and should help the citizens of failed states by integrating efforts to reduce violence, advance the economy, and reform government. Rethinking Counterinsurgency to Respond to the Evolving Jihadist Insurgency urn:uuid:CAC8C19C-0C73-11DD-8279-E1BD38788F35 2008-05-05T03:00:00Z 2008-05-05T03:00:00Z Despite great technological and military advances, British and U.S. counterinsurgency (COIN) operations have been slow to respond and adapt to the rise of the global jihadist insurgency. Operational failures have highlighted the need for the West to rethink and retool its current COIN strategy. U.S. Failed to Monitor and Adapt to Insurgent Trends in Iraq urn:uuid:B0FD261C-C9B7-11DC-A98F-BABE38788F35 2008-03-11T03:00:00Z 2008-03-11T03:00:00Z The inability of the United States to monitor insurgent trends in Iraq and apply new counterinsurgency tactics led many Iraqi civilians to side with sectarian groups, propelling the country to the brink of civil war. United States Lacks the Capability to Counter Insurgency in the Muslim World urn:uuid:83A127D0-CE81-11DC-A98F-BABE38788F35 2008-02-11T03:00:00Z 2008-02-11T03:00:00Z Iraq and Afghanistan have revealed serious shortfalls in the capabilities of the U.S. to counter insurgency in the Muslim world. Instead of relying predominantly on military occupation, the U.S. must become more able to bolster the ability of threatened states to win the contest for the support of their people. Lessons Learned from Past Counterinsurgency (COIN) Operations urn:uuid:D2510F94-50B4-11DC-BCEA-6825C9FFCC07 2007-10-15T03:00:00Z 2007-10-15T03:00:00Z Six historic counterinsurgency operations are examined to determine which tactics, techniques, and procedures led to success and which led to failure, with the hope that U.S. counterinsurgency operations in the future can learn from past lessons. Understanding Proto-Insurgencies urn:uuid:F68AA60C-5561-11DC-AFE6-6825C9FFCC07 2007-10-03T03:00:00Z 2007-10-03T03:00:00Z The most effective U.S. counterinsurgency action would be to anticipate the possibility of insurgencies developing; it could then provide training and advisory programs and inhibit outsides support. Regaining Information Superiority Against 21st-Century Insurgents urn:uuid:F5DBA122-5D6B-11DC-BAE2-33C1F7A557C7 2007-09-27T03:00:00Z 2007-09-27T03:00:00Z U.S. counterinsurgency efforts need to exploit information power by connecting with and learning from the population itself to increase the effectiveness of both the indigenous government and the U.S. military and civilian services that support it. Lessons from a Successful Counterinsurgency Operation urn:uuid:EC2F5F06-D184-11DB-AEDB-0ED8FF2AA768 2007-03-15T03:00:00Z 2007-03-15T03:00:00Z The Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands has been a remarkable success, in part because of the consistency of its message, the strength of its leadership, and its uncommon support for the government. Potential lessons can be taken for current and future counterinsurgency operations. Subversion and Insurgency urn:uuid:02A98E74-BDCA-11DB-B56B-FE69582EEC40 2007-03-02T08:46:00Z 2007-03-02T08:46:00Z Subversion is a critical insurgent tool, but it has long been ignored by policymakers and analysts. This paper presents a set of case studies to explore the elements of subversion and discusses preliminary ideas for combating subversive activities in the context of the "long war" against violent Islamic extremism.