Why UW: factoring in the decision point for unconventional warfare

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Authors
Agee, Ryan C.
DuClos, Maurice K.
Subjects
Unconventional Warfare
UW
Decision Points
Networks
Covert Action
Covert Operations
Irregular Warfare
Special Forces
Phase 0
Left of Beginning
Operational Steady State
TPAJAX
STCIRCUS
STBARNUM
OPHOTFOOT
OPWHITESTAR
Iran-Contra
OPJUSTCAUSE
Dynamic Typology
UW Database
UW in Cold War
Golden Era of UW
Revolution
Resistance
Insurgency
Guerilla Warfare
Synthetic-Resistance
Synthetic-Revolution
Organic-Resistance
Organic-Revolution
Central Intelligence Agency
CIA
OSS Legacy
UW Capability
UW Mechanism
UW Feedback Loops
UW Factors
Influence on Policy
Internal Enablers
External Enablers
Internal Constraints
External Constraints.
Advisors
Blanken, Leo
Date of Issue
2012-12
Date
Dec-12
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
There has been a dramatic unconventional warfare (UW) renaissance in recent years. Much of the published material on the subject has been focused on what unconventional warfare is, re-defining it, and attempting to frame the concept of its use as it relates to the current military operational environment. Little work has been produced that examines the more basic question Why UW This research begins where the 2009 redefinition of UW left off. Identifying an expanded field of 51 cases of U.S.-sponsored unconventional warfare from 1892 to 2010, the authors select four cases that represent a wide variety of UW methods, locations, and goals. These four cases of UW are compared with one case of conventional warfare focusing on the question What are the factors that lead to the use of unconventional warfare as a strategic policy option This study empirically identifies what factors lead to the use of unconventional warfare. The results of this study provide recommendations for the advancement of UW as a strategic option. By understanding the why first, as in why unconventional warfare is chosen as a method of operation, the subsequent questions of how and who become easier to answer.
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Thesis
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Department
Defense Analysis (DA)
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Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
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