Oddity of Waging War on a Tactic: Reframing the Global War on Terror as a Global Counterinsurgency

摘要

The purpose of this monograph is to suggest that the U.S. Global War on Terrorism is actually a Global Counterinsurgency as defined by FM 3-24, and Al Qaida is the global insurgent currently opposing the United States. The Kinetic nature of terrorism and Al Qaida leads one to focus on the tactic of terrorism, not the insurgent nature of Al Qaida. There are two conflicting approaches to countering terrorism currently being used by the United States: Law Enforcement and Military Operations. A more effective and holistic method that blends the two approaches may prove more successful in the future. The key to this approach is to acknowledge the people as the center of gravity in any counterinsurgency and to act accordingly by separating them from the insurgents through both kinetic and nonkinetic methods. One of the most effective nonkinetic ways to accomplish this is to go after Al Qaida's money while ensuring economic opportunities for the people. A holistic counterinsurgency strategy would lend strategic clarity to the current fight against Al Qaida and allow for a broader approach to the problem on all levels.