NS310 Evolution of Warfare Major Carlos Rascon NS310 Evolution of Warfare.

NS310 Evolution of Warfare

Major Carlos Rascon


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”


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


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


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


Terrorism is Not Irrational

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


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


Political Goals of Terrorism

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

• Push adversary into self-constraining acts• Martial law


Terrorism in Historical Perspective

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

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


“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


“Traditional” Terrorism

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

• Therefore low personal risk

• Origins and Actions Nation- Based


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


States Sponsoring Terrorism Today

• Iran

• Iraq

• Syria

• Sudan

• Libya

• North Korea

• Cuba


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


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


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


September 11, 2001


Operation Enduring Freedom

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



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


Tactics

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

targets not ID’d to pilot until after launch


Non-Standard Targeting

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

Deconfliction• SOF control direct to

cockpit• Minimal collateral damage



• 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.”


Al- Qaida Caves in Tora Bora


Leadership Interception Operations

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


Large Naval Contingent of Coalition Partners

• 100+ Ships from 12 nations


Targets and Tactics


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


Questions?

NS310 Evolution of Warfare Major Carlos Rascon NS310 Evolution of Warfare.

Documents

Transcript of NS310 Evolution of Warfare Major Carlos Rascon NS310 Evolution of Warfare.