The Long War Concept: Using the Security Cooperation Marine Air Ground Task Force to Address Irregular Threats through Shaping and Deterrence
Abstract
Security cooperation is a valid and relevant concept, and the security cooperation Marine Air Ground Task Force (SC MAGTF) gives the Marine Corps the capability to address the challenge of building and sustaining partner security capacity to assist in countering the challenge of the Long War. As the nation comes to grips with the momentous task of combating terrorism and other irregular threats in the Long War, it must continually assess the effectiveness of foreign policy, and especially the employment of military force. Security cooperation, which is aimed at building partner nations' security capacity, is quickly becoming an attractive alternative to direct military force for combating the causal factors of global instability, terrorism, and irregular threats. Security cooperation efforts can provide the foundation for an international response to the emerging global threats that the Long War will bring. The Marine Corps is currently poised to accept security cooperation as a deliberate mission. The Marine Corps' creation of a new unit, the Security Cooperation Marine Air Ground Task Force (SC MAGTF), will be an effective means to project force and conduct security cooperation efforts. This paper explains the nature of the Long War and how security cooperation can counter irregular threats by helping to reduce ungoverned spaces. It describes how the Marine Corps is well suited to conduct security cooperation operations, and how the SC MAGTF can be effectively employed in such operations. The author concludes that security cooperation is a valid means of countering the irregular threats the United States now faces. The Marine Corps needs to use security cooperation to reduce/prevent the causal factors of instability and terrorism. The employment of the SC MAGTF is the Marine Corps' best means of providing effective security cooperation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA490846
Entities
People
- Thomas Ziegler
Organizations
- Marine Corps University