Applying Counterinsurgency Doctrine as a Strategy to Defeat the Mexican Cartels

Abstract

The current situation within Mexico has become untenable. The Mexican Cartels have descended into barbarism, huge swaths of territory have been taken under their control, and the Mexican government has been unable to restore good governance. Spillover violence and illegal immigration along the U.S.-Southwest Border are destabilizing efforts to keep the homeland secure. In countering global terrorism, Department of Defense strategic thinkers were able to create viable strategies based on counterinsurgency doctrine. These strategies could provide a foundation for dealing with the Mexican Drug War and the Southwest Border Crisis. By applying counterinsurgency doctrine to the Drug War and its narco-terrorists, the paper provides a basis for an appropriate response to cartel violence, criminal activity, and safe havens. The paper shows how direct action, population security, information operations, and other counterinsurgency methods can bring stability to Mexico.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2012
Accession Number
ADA593059

Entities

People

  • John Maier

Organizations

  • The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Criminals
  • Department Of Defense
  • Doctrine
  • Governments
  • Homeland Security
  • Human Population
  • Information Operations
  • Intelligence Collection
  • National Security
  • Security
  • Societies
  • Surveillance
  • Terrorism
  • United States
  • Violence
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Political Violence and Terrorism Studies.
  • Strategic Security Studies