How are the United States Military, Department of Defense, and Intelligence Community, prepared for perpetual asymmetric warfare in the GWOT?

2016-09-03T12:30:53-04:00

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Sep 3 at 2016 12:33 PM

2016-09-03T12:33:22-04:00

This question should have been asked 15 years ago.

Response by LTC Greg Henning made Sep 3 at 2016 12:37 PM

2016-09-03T12:37:17-04:00

Tough question! Failure is not an option in this type of warfare.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 3 at 2016 12:40 PM

2016-09-03T12:40:36-04:00

The ideologies of terrorist organizations cannot be eliminated without combat operations, and they likewise cannot be eliminated with only combat operations. They can, however, ultimately be eliminated with a simultaneous combination of offensive combat operations targeting active terrorists through targeted killings, an aggressive Active Strategic Offensive Counterintelligence (ASOCI) strategy, and a concerted global effort of economic and social engineering operations designed to spread information, knowledge and prosperity to every corner of the planet.

The international community should have the responsibility not just to follow international laws, but to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the spirit of those laws, and to monitor the actions of one another, and bring up any instances of misconduct so they can be addressed and resolved. Federalism works – America is proof. Federalism can be applied to Globalism in a way that creates a unified effort of Nations to lift every other Nation, while still retaining each Nation’s sovereignty, culture, and individuality.

In order to bring the Global War on Terror to a close, other global issues must be addressed, and a unified global effort of Mankind should be undertaken to ensure that every person in every Nation has the opportunity that the American Constitution and Bill of Rights offers to every single American. These rights of Man should apply to the World. By providing them to destitute regions where terrorist ideologies are spread, children are indoctrinated, and people are recruited into radical organizations, the perpetual cycle of terror and combat can be mitigated, and potentially eliminated over time.

In the meantime, is the best option really combating individual terrorists and organizations, or should a larger strategy combating the ideology itself be pursued?

Response by SFC George Smith made Sep 3 at 2016 1:46 PM

2016-09-03T13:46:18-04:00

maybe if the Bill Clinton administration had been focused on The Problems then instead of the Bills girl Friends were doing.... and Not Blowing up aspirin Factories and warning The terrorist before they hit with cruse missiles...

Response by SFC Pete Kain made Sep 3 at 2016 1:49 PM

2016-09-03T13:49:35-04:00

Does the term....Wing it! Ring a bell?

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Sep 3 at 2016 3:27 PM

2016-09-03T15:27:40-04:00

GWOT? Thought that acronym was put to rest. As to your basic question, we will adapt, but only in response to the enemy strategies. It's like getting the mules attention by hitting him in the head with a 2X4.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Sep 3 at 2016 6:19 PM

2016-09-03T18:19:07-04:00

Struggle Through as we always have since Operation Prairie Fire/El Dorado Canyon during the Reagan Administration with the Counter Strikes against British Airways Office (An Attempt on My and CTO2 Robert Mickelson lives in Retribution) and the subsequent and more successful Locherbie Bombing.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 4 at 2016 7:49 AM

2016-09-04T07:49:10-04:00

Current thinking is in getting away from the ideas of 'Global War on Terror' and 'Counterinsurgency' and 'defeat the network'... Right now the push is in shaping the future battlefields by pursuing peaceful interactions in Phase Zero operations. This initiative is primarily a Department of State function supported by Special Operations Forces and a few key enablers with the goal of developing international partnerships. This initiative is multi-faceted. Putting a good face on US relations through humanitarian assistance and interoperability through training with partner nation military is one side of it. These training exercises allow us to analyze foreign military strengths and weaknesses in case we're required to fight them conventionally, including makeup of their formations, logistics and supply capabilities, and even what type of munitions we could expect to have used against us. The interaction also allows us immeasurable ground-level reporting with regard to level of morale and what the leaders and Soldiers of foreign militaries see as their biggest threats. I know 'defeat the network' is going away, but any conflict we are ever involved in will ultimately turn into a counterinsurgency. I'm putting it out there right now that this new initiative is to 'mitigate the network' before it takes root.

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Sep 4 at 2016 9:37 AM

2016-09-04T09:37:55-04:00

I guess that depends on how much the different agencies have learned how to play together and share their toys. With the leadership we've had in the past few years we are far behind. With the opening of borders and ISIS admitting they have infiltrated their kind into the refugee population I don't think we'll have a clear answer to that. What I do know is if we continue to have a blind eye on things and not learn and keep a vigilant watch "over our shoulder" they well be waiting. "They" are evolving and overcoming. They have a clear and defined goal, they understand their enemy - both of which we (western) don't, or at least our leadership won't allow it. Much of the western leadership has fail to see the dangers and handle the situations accordingly.