...What is the most effective strategy for defeating the insurgents in Afghanistan? The insurgents in Afghanistan cannot be defeated. “After eight years of fighting, two things seem clear: First, the insurgency does not have the capability to defeat U.S. forces or depose Afghanistan’s central government; and, second, U.S. forces do not have the ability to completely eliminate the insurgency.” Thus, the question is no longer how to militarily defeat those we find repellant, but rather how to politically engage nationalist insurgents in a way that ultimately prevents the propagation of future international terrorists. This policy paper addresses the virtual stalemate between insurgents and counterinsurgents and prescribes political compromise as an alternative to the failed counterinsurgent strategies in Afghanistan. The inability of ‘Deterrence strategy’ or ‘Hearts and Minds strategy’ to produce results underscores the impotence of COIN. I argue against the question: the insurgents cannot be defeated; to achieve our stated objective, we must bring the insurgents to the political bargaining table and jointly combat the terrorists that hinder the legitimacy of their national cause. This paper seeks to advance this policy as the most resourceful and self-sufficient solution to producing stability in Afghanistan. Total victory for either side is impossible: the insurgency does not have the capability to defeat U.S. forces or depose Afghanistan’s central government; and furthermore...
Words: 782 - Pages: 4
...At the beginning of Insurgent, Tris, Tobias, Marcus, Peter, and Caleb had just escaped from a war between the Erudite and Dauntless against Abnegation. Sitting on the train, Tris remembered how her father and mother both sacrificed their lives for her. She also remembered how she killed her friend Will, who was also her best friend, Christina’s boyfriend. Feeling ashamed and guilty about their deaths, she hides the truth from Tobias. Later on, they arrived at Amity asking the leader of Amity to hide and protect them from Jeanine and her army. After a short while of hiding, Jeanine’s army reached Amity and searched the place for them. Luckily, they were able to escape onto a train filled with factionless. There, Tris picked up a fight with the...
Words: 660 - Pages: 3
...T.H. Breen presents a fresh perspective on the American Revolution in his most recent book, “American Insurgents, American Patriots: The Revolution of the People”. He strives to correct the popular narrative of American Independence by restoring ordinary individuals to the forefront of the Revolution. Breen argues that there would have been no Revolution and no independent nation if ordinary men and women had not chosen to act—the Revolution was, after all, a people’s revolution (p. 4). Although Breen doesn’t discredit the contribution of the Founding Fathers, he does argue that they were neither the first, nor the most powerful force behind independence. Rather, it was the insurgents who first sparked rebellion—the Founding Fathers came along behind them (pg. 4). Breen re-writes the historical timeline, one driven not by the elite but by the men and women that, in many ways, history has forgotten. Early in the book, Breen acknowledges the reluctance to refer to American Patriots as insurgents. Insurgency is discomforting; it stirs up thoughts of violence and lawlessness. During the Revolution, even colonists active in rebellion against the crown didn’t see...
Words: 1149 - Pages: 5
...insurgencies the Republic of India’s first experience with the phenomenon of separatist insurgency, they were among the most severe. They required an untested government and military to adapt to a form of political warfare with which they had little experience. Through a process of trial and error, India developed an approach to political violence in the Northeast that would guide its response to future insurgencies. The Mizo case is also significant because it was India’s first successfully concluded counterinsurgency campaign, while in Nagaland, political violence was largely contained by the mid-1970s, yet it still continues at a low-level today. The Indian government’s approach was characterized by the use of military force to smother the insurgents and physically separate them from their supporters, while simultaneously making political...
Words: 12193 - Pages: 49
...Discuss the success of United States’ strategy in Afghanistan Shahaan Barlas Lahore School of Economics International Relations Mashal Shabbir April 9, 2012 Abstract This paper includes a brief discussion of the U.S strategies in Afghanistan and will then analyze that how successful was U.S in those strategies. The main objectives that were kept in mind by U.S while transferring its troops to Afghanistan are also discussed. The paper also concisely discusses the failure of the strategies undertaken by U.S and reasons for the failure. The paper also analyzes different aspects that left Afghanistan in a situation in which it cannot pursue without the help of another powerful country and also sheds light on the present situation of Afghanistan. The conclusion was drawn keeping in mind all the points, which were taken from credible sources, discussed in the paper. The paper includes several references to make the point more credible and clear to the reader. Success of U.S strategy in Afghanistan The American government was doubtful that even a stable and acceptable outcome in Afghanistan is possible. They believed that Afghanistan has never been managed effectively due to which it has become ungovernable. Much of today's public opposition to the war centers on the widespread fear that whatever the military outcome, there is no Afghan political end state that is both acceptable and achievable at a reasonable cost. An American commissioner...
Words: 2926 - Pages: 12
... This insurgent group also motivated by politics, they want to be independent and use Islam as their ideology. Not only that, Aceh wanted to be independent because they think there is a gap between the central authority and the local authority. The examples about the terror and insurgency case show that both terrorism and insurgency are considered political violence. They use violence to have a change in politics. The similarity between terrorists and criminals is their target. They do not think about which one is combatant or which one is civilians. They do their action to anyone; they attack both combatant and civilians. The example about terrorist is the Bali bombing in 2002. According to...
Words: 1190 - Pages: 5
...self-rule. Caught unawares by an unexpectedly robust insurgency, the United States struggles to develop and implement an effective counterinsurgency strategy. The ongoing US presidential campaign serves as a catalyst to polarize public opinion, as the insurrectionists step up their offensive in an unsuccessful attempt to unseat the incumbent Republican President. These events—from a century ago—share a number of striking parallels with the events of 2003 and 2004. The Philippine Insurrection of 18991902 was America’s first major combat operation of the 20th century. The American policy of rewarding support and punishing opposition in the Philippines, called “attraction and chastisement,” was an effective operational strategy. By eliminating insurgent resistance, the campaign successfully set the conditions necessary for achieving the desired end-state. After a brief review of the conflict, this article will examine the strategic and operational lessons of America’s successful campaign. It will consider the belligerents’ policy goals, strategies, and their centers of gravity. (While 53 Spring 2005 neither side planned their campaign using these strategic concepts, these terms will be used in...
Words: 6720 - Pages: 27
...sources have indicated that there is a large Insurgent’s Cell operating in the town of McKenna. The insurgents are conducting disruption operations in our AO by planting IEDs and conducting sniper operations to harass and kill Coalition Forces as they conduct their daily operations. The 3rd Battalion 11th Infantry Regiment will conduct a Raid on the suspected insurgent cell in the town of McKenna to prevent further disruption of daily operations, to seize any bomb making material, capture or kill insurgents, and collect any intelligence information that could lead to further elimination of the insurgent threat in our AO. B.A. ENEMY. 2.2.1. DISPOSITION: Insurgents appear to have established a base of operation in the town of McKenna IOT disrupt the freedom of movement of Coalition Forces responsible for providing security, training, and operational support to the ANA in the AO. The insurgents are currently occupying two buildings on the eastern side of the town, grid GL06528372.They are using one building as a safe house and the other to produce IEDs. This group of insurgents is focused on emplacing IEDs on the MSRs and on any area that has a high concentration of Coalition Forces traffic. They are also using snipers to harass any patrols that are sent off the FOB into the battalion’s area of responsibility. B.B.B.A. COMPOSITION: The Cell of insurgent is estimated at 20 men of ages 20 to 35. They operate in 2-3 men teams. The group has been seen...
Words: 3660 - Pages: 15
...Despite this shortcoming, Ostlund would hand over Ranch House and Bella to Chosen Company commander, Matt Myers. After months of adjusting to the terrain and firing rounds at distant enemies, paratroopers at Ranch House would face the insurgents in their first intense battle since arriving in Afghanistan. Ranch House, located above the Aranas village, and miles from Bella, was fortified with sandbags and offered a controlled view over the village. The base consisted of four main posts, a mortar section, and claymores positioned around the common wire. Although capable of overseeing the village, the location had “twisting oaks that…blocked a lot of what they could see within the fort’s perimeter” and dead space offered insurgents a place to take cover (Zoroya 2017, 69). Moreover, Post One and Post Two were most vulnerable due to draw located below their positions; enemy soldiers could conceal themselves there, meters away from the posts. Post three offered the best position because it was located at the highest elevation in the oval-shaped outpost. Post four covered the southeast area, while the Afghanistan compound covered Ranch House’s...
Words: 1313 - Pages: 6
...Historical sequence 1947: At the time of Partition, Balochistan consisted of four princely states, namely Makran, Lasbela, Kharan and Kalat. The first three willingly joined Pakistan in 1947, while Ahmed Yaar Khan, the Khan of Kalat declared independence. April 1948: Pakistani army invaded Kalat and the Khan surrendered. His brother, Prince Abdul Karim, continued to resist with around 700 guerrillas but was soon crushed. 1954: Anti-One Unit movement in Balochistan turned violent. Nawab Mir Nauroz Khan Zarakzai, chief of Zehri tribe, led a resistance of 1,000 militia against the army. July 1960: Nauroz’s son was hanged after being convicted of treason. 1962: Nauroz died in Kohlu prison, becoming a symbol of Baloch resistance. July 1963: Insurgents operating from 22 camps in Marri, Mengal and Bugti areas started to bomb railway tracks and ambushed convoys. The Army retaliated by destroying vast areas of Marri tribe’s land. 1969: Baloch separatists agreed to a ceasefire. Yahya Khan abolished One Unit. 1970: Balochistan was recognised as the fourth province of the then West Pakistan. 1972: The first ever elected government comprising Baloch nationalists was formed with Attaullah Mengal as CM. 1973: President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto dismissed the elected Balochistan government; this led to protests and calls for Balochistan’s secession. April, 1973: Baloch militants began to ambush army convoys. Bhutto ordered sending more troops to the province. The fighting was more widespread than...
Words: 1490 - Pages: 6
...different angles, I believe this group was an organization with deep patriotic roots that revolted and implored terrorism on both the British military and innocent individuals. Thusly I feel that the Sons of Liberty were indeed terrorists but also insurgents for they attacked military personnel as well as the innocent civilians. The author offers examples of attacks on the British and loyalists by the Sons of Liberty. Such as, their revolt against the established government through tarring the loyalists, breaking into and wrecking Fort George’s commander’s house, burning the governor’s coach, and burning down the lieutenant governor’s house. These acts were attacks and revolts upon the innocent people as well as the government and militants of Britain. Through these acts which frightened and scared the British and their supporters, this group of men expressed their form of “patriotism” in a very terrorizing manner. A terrorist is defined to be someone who uses violent acts to frighten innocent civilians as a way of trying to achieve a political or a religious goal. And an insurgent is an individual that revolts against and attacks civil authority. With this being said, the Sons of liberty prove to be both terrorists and insurgents. Their attacks put terror into the hearts of their enemies, both civilian and military, and they used this violence to show their protest against the government at the time. For example, a very...
Words: 465 - Pages: 2
...begun in 1979. Previously, the Carter administration had little hesitation in coming to the aid of Afghanistan after the invasion. At the time, the United States had the understanding that the Soviet Union would eventually become Middle East and would be able to gain control of the oil fields. Two events increased U.S.-Soviet tensions: the suppression of the Solidarity labor movement in Poland in December 1981, and the destruction of an off-course civilian airliner by a Soviet jet fighter in 1983. The United States also condemned the continuing Soviet occupation of Afghanistan and provided aid to the mujahidin resistance there. The Reagan Doctrine pledged aid to insurgents battling against the pro-Soviets as Reagan administration assumed that the resistance might drive the Soviets out of Afghanistan, but the insurgents defeating the Soviets were...
Words: 1191 - Pages: 5
...Dubois, Trouillot, and Thornton’s accounts generally acknowledge there wasn’t a clear predominant support for republicanism in the beginning of the revolution. In the early years of the revolution, many insurgent groups established local ‘kings’ in areas they controlled and had aligned themselves with French Monarchists. Meanwhile they were fighting a French Republic determined to maintain control over Haiti and which initially sought to reimpose slavery. Though, as Dubois and Thornton point out, there were elements Enlightenment, African, and Haitian produced ideas (which had the potential to incorporated into an idea of republicanism) that were present among insurgents and had developed over the course of the revolution. The defection of figures such as Louverture and Dessalines from the French colonial forces to the revolution, and the consolidation of much of the revolutionary forces under leadership had the added effect of putting figures more familiar with republican ideas into the center of revolutionary politics. Jenson’s description of Louverture and Dessalines’ political expresses a growing prominence of republican ideology as they progressed toward seeking Haitian...
Words: 1196 - Pages: 5
...the plane; Matt and Jamali tandem together, but as they free fall, Jamali strikes out at Matt. In the air, they battle and Billy is forced to stab Jamali, killing him. In Kabul, they find and kill insurgents. They discover a map marked with various locations. They find the first location and learn that the insurgent they killed was Mustafa’s brother. The next location is the Park Palace Hotel. On one of the dead insurgents they find a phone and Matt calls Mustafa. Mustafa will only make deal for Jamali, but Matt tells him Jamali is dead. Matt finds a map to hidden tunnels. The crew splits up. George and Paul are captured and held in the same prison cell with Sam. They tell him, his father is planning a rescue. Matt finds the hidden tunnels and discovers explosives that could take down the hotel. Matt locates the prison cells and is reunited with his son Sam. They narrowly escape the tunnel as it explodes. At home, the police look for John Hall. John kills himself. They race to the chopper. Mustafa pursues them. Billy is injured. The chopper finally arrives, but Matt knows that there are too many insurgents, so he puts Sam into the chopper and then shuts the door. He’s not leaving. He has one last stand. As the chopper takes off, Matt battles with Mustafa and the insurgents. Mustafa is shot in the head. Matt is also hit. He thinks of his family. His family and his children are the most important thing in his life. Matt watches as the chopper fades away. ...
Words: 614 - Pages: 3
...IDSA Issue Brief IDSA ISSUE BRIEF 1 Countering the Naxals Harinder Singh Col. Harinder Singh is Research Fellow at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi June 11, 2010 Summary This essay attempts to weld the three prongs - governance, security and development - to better understand and handle the situation in the naxal affected states. Theoretically speaking, a three-pronged approach will have to be built around the conceptual framework of GRID-GUARD-GOVERN spanning the critically affected naxal belt. There is nothing new about the strategy except that it would have to be comprehensive in design and necessitate a "whole of the government" approach. The strategy presupposes the need to do away with the sequential application of socio-economic solutions, and which could sometimes be unsavourily politics or media driven, by undertaking security-led governance cum development action. Countering the Naxals 2 India has been engaged in combating internal threats including armed rebellions since independence. It has applied a different approach in each situation, and over time has evolved principles, guidelines and procedures to deal with these challenges. It has learned that counterinsurgency campaigns are not just about winning wars, but about controlling the political violence at levels that enable the initiation of peace initiatives and the creation of an environment conducive to foster dialogue and negotiations. It has been fairly successful...
Words: 2973 - Pages: 12
