WATER SUPPLY FOR COUNTERINSURGENCY OPERATIONS IN NORTHEAST THAILAND
Abstract
The status of water-resources investigations in Northeast Thailand is examined with particular reference to problems of civil and military water supply so as to suggest ways and means of improving existing water supply and forestalling potential water shortages in counterinsurgency operations. With 65,000 square miles and a population of roughly 10 million, NE Thailand amounts to about one-third of the entire country. Potable water is in short supply in many areas, and water distribution systems are very rare. The problem of developing more water for the civilian population is joined with the one of ensuring that sufficient water is available to counterinsurgency forces if field operations were to be undertaken. The situation is approached two ways: One aims at examination of the occurrence of water resources based on evaluation of the results of research in progress by a number of agencies. The second approach involves the preparation of scenarios to illustrate the nature of real planning problems and constraints as they might arise through three possible successive stages in insurgency in NE Thailand. Potential responsive counterinsurgency activity is suggested, including deployments of the Royal Thai Army, to set forth the problems of operations and logistics. The Royal Thai Army, moreover, represents a significant source of potential manpower for carrying out an experimental civic-action program of village-level assistance in exploitation of shallow ground-water resources.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1968
- Accession Number
- AD0675959
Entities
People
- David B. Doan
- Perry F. Narten