Starting point: a proposed framework for unconventional warfare planning
Download
Author
Collins, Patrick D.
Date
2014-06Advisor
Rothstein, Hy S.
Second Reader
Lee, Doowan
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Policy makers and military strategists should understand how to effect regime change in an unconventional warfare (UW) environment. With this understanding, campaign and operational strategies can be more accurately formulated. This thesis uses four historical case studies where successful regime change was implemented through UW and draws conclusions about essential components that can be used for future planning. A UW planning framework was developed, which consists of planning considerations, lines of effort and insurgent imperatives for success. The planning considerations that must be understood are the nature, strengths and vulnerabilities of the target regime, the level of insurgent influence and social ties to the population. The four critical lines of effort for planning and executing UW with the goal of regime change were identified as: psychological operations, intelligence operations, disruption operations and logistical support. These four lines of effort are effective at fostering the insurgent imperatives that are highly correlated with success: motivation and commitment, tangible support, flexibility and adaptability.
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.Collections
Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
A counter insurgency study an analysis of local defenses
Stone, John H.; Giampietri, Sergio M. (Monterey California. Naval Postgraduate School, 2004-09);Local Defenses are view by many counterinsurgency strategists as an essential element in defeating an insurgency. Providing a population with a local defense organization will strongly support the government's strategy of ... -
Optimizing the long-term capacity expansion and protection of Iraqi oil infrastructure
Brown, Patrick S. (Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School, 2005-09);We introduce a tri-level defender-attacker-defender optimization model that prescribes how Iraq's oil infrastructure can, over time, be expanded, protected, and operated, even in the face of insurgent attacks. The outer-most ... -
Border jumping: strategic and operational considerations in planning cross-border raids against insurgent sanctuaries
Berndt, George E. (Monterey, California: Naval Postgraduate School, 2013-06);Cross-border ground raids by state-backed security forces can have a detrimental impact on guerrillas ability to wage war. External support in neighboring countries can be an important source of strength to insurgent forces. ...