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Applying Case Studies to Combat Terrorism and Insurgencies: The Lessons Learned Approach

By Dan Sommer

Republish: EasyPublish™ Published: 25Dec2009 Word count: 601 Viewed: 329 time(s) Get Free Content For Your Site

The world is plagued by terrorism from a variety of violent non-state actors. While the underlying causes of terrorism and insurgency may be different depending on the target country, the key to combating terrorism will always be highly educated intelligence and military personnel who are adept in terrorism studies and have taken robust counterterrorism courses.

Applying the lessons learned approach to terrorism studies helps students understand the mistakes of history. Lessons learned from past insurgencies help us understand the challenges we face today in Iraq and Afghanistan. Examples include studies of the American Revolution, the Boer Wars, the Filipino Insurgency during World War II, the Vietnam War, the Soviet–Afghan War, and the Lebanese Civil War. While the underlying causes of each insurgency or war have been different, they are all similar in certain areas. The historical and cultural perspectives and insights from these case studies can be learned in qualified counterterrorism courses offered in a rigorous terrorism studies program (including online terrorism studies programs).

In order to discover what actions need to be taken to wage an effective counterterrorism campaign, it is important to look at past successes and failures. It is equally important to note what has changed over time and what has stayed the same in order to ensure that effective strategies from the past are properly implemented today. From a close examination of these cases, a broader picture can be drawn with regard to the successes of each war. From there, a better plan can be developed that will be effective in eliminating the problems of the past and, thus, support for any insurgency or terrorism campaign can be reduced until it is no longer a viable force.

One of the key tenets of counterterrorism and counterinsurgency strategies is a strong grasp of the culture from which the conflict or opposition emanates. Misinterpretations of an opponent’s capabilities and intent could spell disaster; for example, the United States misunderstood the intent of the Pakistan Government to influence politics on the ground in Afghanistan during the 1979-1989 Soviet-Afghan War and their capability to carry out that intent through their reckless support of the Taliban long after the Soviet withdrawal.

No insurgency or terrorist group can be defeated through brute force; raw power may temporarily denigrate the fighting capacity of the foe, but in the long-term will probably serve to alienate local populations. Going into conflict with blunt military force may actually serve as a tool for recruitment if the population is duped into believing that their support of the terrorists or insurgents will help bring an end to the violence. This was true of many Afghans in the 1970s that mostly supported the Taliban against the invading Soviets who ruthlessly attacked village centers with helicopter gunships, tanks, and large-scale aerial bombing campaigns. It is interesting and unfortunate that this decade-long insurgency spawned an entire generation of terrorists that continue to inflict harm on the international community to this day.

In the end, effective strategies to combat terrorism involve a careful study of terrorism in the past, and applying lessons learned to mitigate the effects of terrorism and reduce its members. Only those counterterrorism courses that account for this will prove successful in today’s security environment. Whether acquired through qualified classroom or online terrorism studies, there are many credible academic programs out there that teach counterterrorism and counterinsurgency material. A comprehensive and complete education in this area, however, must include a deep understanding and appreciation for the culture and history of the societies from which the terrorists and insurgents emanate, wherever that may be in all-too-certain future conflict.

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