NS310 Evolution of Warfare

Major Carlos Rascon

NS310 Evolution of Warfare

NS310 Evolution of Warfare

SOURCES

• Dupuy and Dupuy, “Understanding War from Historical Perspective”, Marine Corps Gazette, June 1985, pp. 53-58

• American National Security, “Terrorism”, September 11, 2002

• RADM Zelibor, “The Warfighter’s Perspective”

NS310 Evolution of Warfare

Learning Objectives

• Comprehend the proliferation of terrorism and its use as a political and military method of warfare

• Comprehend the acts against the U.S. on Sept. 11, 2001 and explain the U.S.’s response towards Afghanistan in Operation Enduring Freedom

NS310 Evolution of Warfare

Terrorism is a Political Act

• A weapon of psychological purposes

• Premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets by subnation or clandestine agents usually intended to influence an audience

NS310 Evolution of Warfare

Terrorism is a Political Act

• Creates extreme fear and anxiety in a target group larger than immediate victims• “Extra-normal violence in a symbolic act”• Specific victims have no particular

significance to terrorist

NS310 Evolution of Warfare

Terrorism is Not Irrational

• Terrorist use logic that links• Goals• Objectives• Strategy

NS310 Evolution of Warfare

Political Goals of Terrorism

• Create sense of vulnerability in larger target population

• To publicize terrorists’ plight (gain recognition)

• To embolden their allies and supporters• Provoke violent reaction

NS310 Evolution of Warfare

Political Goals of Terrorism

• Force policy change by adversary through public pressure• Turn public against authorities

• Push adversary into self-constraining acts• Martial law

NS310 Evolution of Warfare

Terrorism in Historical Perspective

• Acts of terrorism recorded over 2000 years ago in Middle East

• Term “terrorism” coined during the French Revolution (1790’s)

NS310 Evolution of Warfare

“Traditional” Terrorism

• Terrorists’ Concern for legitimacy• Moderated strategy of violence

• Violence calibrated in relation to political objectives • Leaves future possibility for negotiation and political

settlement• Excessive violence reduces legitimacy and claims for

support• PLO & Israel (until 2001)

• Terrorists always claimed credit for their acts

NS310 Evolution of Warfare

“Traditional” Terrorism

• 10% Terrorists caught or killed• 50% caught went to jail

• Therefore low personal risk

• Origins and Actions Nation- Based

NS310 Evolution of Warfare

Recent Terrorists Acts against the U.S.

• 1983- U.S. Embassy & Marine Corps Barracks, Lebanon

• 1989- Lockerbe PA103 bombing• 1993- World Trade Center• 1996- Oklahoma City• 1998- East Africa Embassy Bombings• 2000- USS Cole, Yemen• 2001- WTC & Pentagon

NS310 Evolution of Warfare

States Sponsoring Terrorism Today

• Iran

• Iraq

• Syria

• Sudan

• Libya

• North Korea

• Cuba

NS310 Evolution of Warfare

The “New” Terrorism

• Religion based• Self legitimacy – no need for restraint• Sense of superiority- no need for restraint• Personal risk is unimportant; sacred misson

• Greater Violence – Greater “Good”• Death of victims reduces number of non-

beleivers

NS310 Evolution of Warfare

The “New” Terrorism

• 1995: 25% of terrorist attacks religion- based

• Claiming credit for specific acts less important • Political message is

vulnerability and destruction of adversary

NS310 Evolution of Warfare

The “New” Terrorism• Transitional • Better technology and means

for terror effects• Communications• Financial• Weaponry and explosives

• Greater Vulnerability of Modern Urban Technological Societies• Fragile complex systems• Energy• Transport

NS310 Evolution of Warfare

September 11, 2001

NS310 Evolution of Warfare

NS310 Evolution of Warfare

Operation Enduring Freedom

• United States response to September 11• Afghanistan harbored terrorists• War against Taliban, not all of Afghanistan

NS310 Evolution of Warfare

NS310 Evolution of Warfare

Operation Enduring Freedom

• Different than Desert Storm• Extended ranges• Targets intermingled with non-targets• Few fixed targets• Non-traditional targets

NS310 Evolution of Warfare

NS310 Evolution of Warfare

Tactics

• 92% LGB’s• 85% Non-Fixed• After day 12, 93% of

targets not ID’d to pilot until after launch

NS310 Evolution of Warfare

Non-Standard Targeting

• Emphasis on:• Positive ID• Precision Targeting• Blue/White Force

Deconfliction• SOF control direct to

cockpit• Minimal collateral damage

NS310 Evolution of Warfare

NS310 Evolution of Warfare

Operation Enduring Freedom

• Leaflets were dropped on sites before bombing• Both in English and the native languages in

which they were dropped. Quite a variety

• “OSAMA BIN LADEN THE MURDERER AND COWARD HAS ABANDONED AL QAIDA . HE HAS ABANDONED YOU AND RUN AWAY. GIVE YOURSELF UP AND DO NOT DIE NEEDLESSLY. YOU MEAN NOTHING TO HIM. SAVE YOUR FAMILIES THE GRIEF AND PAIN OF YOUR DEATH.”

NS310 Evolution of Warfare

Al- Qaida Caves in Tora Bora

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Leadership Interception Operations

• After Taliban Fell, Navy was tasked with ensuring no Taliban or Al-Qaida members fled by sea

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Large Naval Contingent of Coalition Partners

• 100+ Ships from 12 nations

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Targets and Tactics

NS310 Evolution of Warfare

Summary

• To counteract terrorism the U.S. has aggressively encouraged countries to stop harboring terrorists.

• The U.S. is working on Homeland Defense to enhance the response capabilities of military, federal, state, and local emergency responders to terrorist incidents and incidents involving weapons of mass destruction

• War on Terrorism

NS310 Evolution of Warfare

Questions?