Monitoring and Disrupting Dark Networks A Bias toward the Center and What It Costs Us
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Authors
Roberts, Nancy C.
Everton, Sean
Subjects
ISIS
Terrorism
Counter-Terrorism
Strategy
Kinetic and Non-Kinetic
Electronic Warfare
Capacity-building
Terrorism
Counter-Terrorism
Strategy
Kinetic and Non-Kinetic
Electronic Warfare
Capacity-building
Advisors
Date of Issue
2016
Date
2016
Publisher
Language
Abstract
The goal of this article is to explore this analytic bias--how it is manifested, why it appears so extensive, and what unwitting limitations it imposes on our strategic options to counter terrorism.
We use data from a study of the Syrian opposition network that was conducted in the CORE Lab
at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey California (Lucente and Wilson 2013). The
original study sought to provide a window into the armed opposition units against the regime of
Syrian President Bashar Assad. This article proceeds as follows: We begin by reviewing the
various strategies that can be used for disrupting dark networks. These can be broken down into
two broad categories -- kinetic and non-kinetic. The former uses coercive means for disruption while the latter seeks to undermine dark networks using with subtler applications of power. Drawing on a previous analysis, we illustrate how some of these strategies can be implemented,
while at the same time highlighting our own bias in that study toward central actors. We then turn to an analysis of the Syrian opposition network, highlighting how a central focus can blind
analysts to other important aspects of a network; in this case, elements that ultimately aligned
themselves with the Islamic State of Syria (ISIS). We conclude with some implications for the
future use of SNA to monitor and disrupt dark networks.
Type
Article
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Defense Analysis (DA)
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
18 p.
Citation
Middle East Review of Public Administration (MERPA), (2)1, 2016
Distribution Statement
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.