Case Study: Operation Enduring Freedom Philippines

Abstract

In 2001, Special Operations Command Pacific formed Joint Special Operations Task Force-510 to lead operations in the southern Philippines Islands of Mindanao and Basilan. The broad purpose was to assist the government of the Philippines by increasing the capacity of the Philippine armed forces in the south to deal with an outlaw Islamic terrorist group, Al-Harakat al-Islamiyya, or the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), thereby to increase the stability of an important regional ally, as well as contribute to what became the global war on terrorism. The problem posed was one requiring the conceptual apparatus of design thinking, even though it anticipated formalization of design doctrine (FM 5-0) by a number of years. The experience also illustrates application of the historical principles of counterinsurgency listed in FM 3-24.2 The situation was complex. The U.S. government, which had neglected their former colony and erstwhile ally since the base closings of 1992, was becoming aware of the threat posed by insurgents to this still friendly government, located on the vital western Pacific waterways. The Philippine government remained sensitive to U.S. intervention for a variety of historical reasons, some from the colonial past, some from more recent events. Moreover, at the time, the Philippine government was In 2001, Special Operations Command Pacific formed Joint Special Operations Task Force-510 to lead operations in the southern Philippines Islands of Mindanao and Basilan. The broad purpose was to assist the government of the Philippines by increasing the capacity of the Philippine armed forces in the south to deal with an outlaw Islamic terrorist group, Al-Harakat al-Islamiyya, or the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), thereby to increase the stability of an important regional ally, as well as contribute to what became the global war on terrorism.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2010
Accession Number
ADA532988

Entities

People

  • Richard Swain

Organizations

  • Booz Allen Hamilton

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • C4I
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Afghanistan Conflict
  • Agreements
  • Case Studies
  • Civil Affairs
  • Counterinsurgency
  • Counterterrorism
  • Governments
  • Military Operations
  • Military Science
  • National Governments
  • National Security
  • Political Systems
  • Psychological Operations
  • Terrorism
  • United States Pacific Command
  • United States Special Operations Command
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.
  • Political Violence and Terrorism Studies.