Counterterrorism and Operational Art.
Abstract
Can operational art, an operational concept developed as an analytical tool for conventional conflict, be useful for an asymmetrical conflict of countering terrorism? Operational art is the method of linking strategic objectives into operational design and, ultimately, tactical action. In conventional conflict, operational art enables a commander to best use the resources to accomplish the strategic objective. In the same respect, countering terrorism, which is beyond the capabilities of a single agency in the federal government, requires the most efficient use of limited resources to accomplish the strategic objective. This monograph investigates whether operational art is useful in countering terrorism. The United States' counterterrorism effort was examined to determine if operational art applies to this form of asymmetric conflict. First, the historical development and fundamentals of operational art are described to highlight the differences of a system based on unity of effort instead of unity of command. With these procedures in mind, Presidential Decision Directive 39 (PDD-39), the nation's counterterrorist strategy, is explained to describe current interagency counterterrorist operations. Finally, operational art is used to analyze Presidential Decision Directive 39 (PDD-39) to determine if it is as applicable to a terrorist asymmetrical threat as it is to a conventional threat. Specifically, PDD-39 was analyzed to see if the ends, ways, and means methodology and campaign design are feasible in linking strategic objectives to tactical action. This monograph concludes that operational art is useful for an asymmetrical conflict of countering terrorism. PDD-39 has identified the interagency conditions, the ends, to accomplish the nation's strategic counterterrorist objectives. It used campaign design, the ways, to accomplish the ends, through the means of the various government departments and agencies.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 21, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA357337
Entities
People
- Christopher M. Hickey
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College