United States Counterinsurgency Theory
Abstract
The United States has engaged in counterinsurgency conflicts throughout its history but has never fully developed the strategic political and military doctrine necessary to succeed. The goal of an insurgency is to overthrow the seated government of a nation and each insurgency requires the passive and active participation of segments of the population to obtain the necessary power. The population of a nation thus becomes the critical battleground as the insurgency and the government battle for control of the hearts and minds of the population in a winner take all contest. Winning the hearts and minds of the people is more than just being nice, it requires protection and security around the clock to remove the influence of the insurgency. The United States military has historically shown a predilection for high technology warfare with lethality coupled with extreme precision from standoff ranges to replace the need for boots on the ground. Speed, lethality, and firepower are important factors in warfare but in counterinsurgency patience, persistence, and non-kinetic means are the most important. Synchronizing military action to provide effective security and protection of the population to enable a governments economic, political, and social reform is critical to achieve victory in counterinsurgency.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2010
- Accession Number
- AD1020157
Entities
People
- Andrew J. Merkle
Organizations
- Air Command and Staff College