IWAR Briefing Maltz

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““Irregular Warfare”Irregular Warfare”in the in the

Major Combat OperationsMajor Combat OperationsJoint Operating ConceptJoint Operating Concept

Richard MaltzRichard Maltz

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PurposePurpose

Share results of current research on IWARShare results of current research on IWAR

Provide forum for discussion of IWARProvide forum for discussion of IWAR

Frame the IWAR challenge in MCO contextFrame the IWAR challenge in MCO context

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””This is another type of warfare - new in This is another type of warfare - new in its intensity, ancient in its origin - war its intensity, ancient in its origin - war by guerrillas, subversives, insurgents, by guerrillas, subversives, insurgents, assassins; war by ambush instead of assassins; war by ambush instead of by combat, by infiltration instead of by combat, by infiltration instead of aggression, seeking victory by eroding aggression, seeking victory by eroding and exhausting the enemy instead of and exhausting the enemy instead of engaging him…it preys on unrest”engaging him…it preys on unrest”

John F. KennedyJohn F. KennedyUS Naval AcademyUS Naval AcademyJune 6, 1962June 6, 1962

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New Security EnvironmentNew Security EnvironmentMeansMeans: : Adversary can plan and communicate at the speed of Adversary can plan and communicate at the speed of internet; maneuver at the speed of aircraft; seemingly unlimited internet; maneuver at the speed of aircraft; seemingly unlimited personnel; unconstrained by organizational or national personnel; unconstrained by organizational or national restrictionsrestrictions

MotivationMotivation:: Adversary is motivated by zealous ideologies and Adversary is motivated by zealous ideologies and hate; nothing we would recognize as political; there is no hate; nothing we would recognize as political; there is no theoretical option for negotiation or compromise theoretical option for negotiation or compromise

FocusFocus:: Adversary is focused strategically, not geographic-ally; Adversary is focused strategically, not geographic-ally; isolated action in one area can achieve effects globally isolated action in one area can achieve effects globally

OrganizationOrganization:: Adversary is networked, unconstrained by Adversary is networked, unconstrained by hierarchical, often-ponderoushierarchical, often-ponderous decision-making constructsdecision-making constructs

MoralityMorality:: Adversary is unconcerned with (and often wants) Adversary is unconcerned with (and often wants) collateral damage; believes his ends justify any meanscollateral damage; believes his ends justify any means

-- Culled from Address by Admiral Giambastiani-- Culled from Address by Admiral Giambastiani

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Characteristics of Regular WarfareCharacteristics of Regular Warfare(Regular Warfare is usually characterized by (Regular Warfare is usually characterized by allall of the below) of the below)

Combat waged by armed forces of nation statesCombat waged by armed forces of nation statesObservation of set rules and laws of warfareObservation of set rules and laws of warfareLarge generic military formationsLarge generic military formationsSet geographic boundaries of operationsSet geographic boundaries of operationsSet demographic boundaries with distinct combatants Set demographic boundaries with distinct combatants and noncombatantsand noncombatantsGenerally brief periods of high intensity conflictGenerally brief periods of high intensity conflictLarge confrontations and set-piece battlesLarge confrontations and set-piece battlesUniformed combatantsUniformed combatantsForce-on-force engagements leading to defeat of one Force-on-force engagements leading to defeat of one side’s forcesside’s forcesEmphasis on decisive combat as means to victoryEmphasis on decisive combat as means to victory

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Characteristics of Irregular WarfareCharacteristics of Irregular Warfare (Irregular Warfare is usually characterized by (Irregular Warfare is usually characterized by anyany of the below) of the below)

Combat by forces other than those of statesCombat by forces other than those of statesLack of observation of set rules and laws of warfareLack of observation of set rules and laws of warfareSmall specialized (often elite) military formationsSmall specialized (often elite) military formationsFew rigid geographic boundaries of operationsFew rigid geographic boundaries of operationsElastic demographic boundaries, little distinction between Elastic demographic boundaries, little distinction between combatants and noncombatants; deliberate, sometimes combatants and noncombatants; deliberate, sometimes predominant targeting of civilians predominant targeting of civilians Generally protracted low-intensity conflictGenerally protracted low-intensity conflictEvasion of large confrontations and battles in favor of Evasion of large confrontations and battles in favor of harassment and attritionharassment and attritionCombatants in civilian clothingCombatants in civilian clothingPopulation-on-force engagements leading to attrition and Population-on-force engagements leading to attrition and demoralization of regular forces demoralization of regular forces Psychological warfare as the means to victoryPsychological warfare as the means to victory

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Forms of Irregular WarfareForms of Irregular Warfare

Guerrilla WarfareGuerrilla Warfare

PropagandaPropaganda

Special OperationsSpecial Operations

SubversionSubversion

TerrorismTerrorism

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DefinitionsDefinitionsGuerrilla WarfareGuerrilla Warfare – – (DOD, NATO) Military and paramilitary operations conducted in (DOD, NATO) Military and paramilitary operations conducted in enemy-held or hostile territory by irregular, predominantly indigenous forces. Also enemy-held or hostile territory by irregular, predominantly indigenous forces. Also called GW. See also unconventional warfare. called GW. See also unconventional warfare.

Propaganda Propaganda ---- (DOD) Any form of communication in support of national objectives (DOD) Any form of communication in support of national objectives designed to influence the opinions, emotions, attitudes, or behavior of any group in designed to influence the opinions, emotions, attitudes, or behavior of any group in order to benefit the sponsor, either directly or indirectly. See also black propaganda; order to benefit the sponsor, either directly or indirectly. See also black propaganda; grey propaganda; white propaganda. grey propaganda; white propaganda.

Special OperationsSpecial Operations – – (DOD) Operations conducted in … sensitive environ-ments to (DOD) Operations conducted in … sensitive environ-ments to achieve … objectives employing military capabilities for which there is no broad achieve … objectives employing military capabilities for which there is no broad conventional force … often require covert, clandestine, or low visibility capabilities … conventional force … often require covert, clandestine, or low visibility capabilities … can be conducted independently or in conjunction with opera-tions of conventional can be conducted independently or in conjunction with opera-tions of conventional forces or other government agencies and may include … indigenous or surrogate forces or other government agencies and may include … indigenous or surrogate forces … differ from conventional operations in degree of physical and political risk, forces … differ from conventional operations in degree of physical and political risk, operational techniques, mode of employment, independence from friendly support, operational techniques, mode of employment, independence from friendly support, and dependence on detailed operational intelligence and indigenous assets. Also and dependence on detailed operational intelligence and indigenous assets. Also called SO. called SO.

SubversionSubversion -- -- (DOD) Action designed to undermine the military, economic, psycho-(DOD) Action designed to undermine the military, economic, psycho-logical, or political strength or morale of a regime. See also unconventional warfare.logical, or political strength or morale of a regime. See also unconventional warfare.

TerrorismTerrorism – – (Unofficial; official definitions were not deemed to be useful) (Unofficial; official definitions were not deemed to be useful) Deliberate threat or use of violence against civilians for political purposesDeliberate threat or use of violence against civilians for political purposes

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Critical Elements of Irregular WarfareCritical Elements of Irregular WarfareTailored to the political, social, economic, and military Tailored to the political, social, economic, and military conditions of the targeted areas and populationsconditions of the targeted areas and populationsHighly dependent on motivation and ideology of followersHighly dependent on motivation and ideology of followersComposed of execution cells, support infrastructure (also Composed of execution cells, support infrastructure (also often in cells), and a base of popular and media support often in cells), and a base of popular and media support (the junctions between these are its critical vulnerabilities)(the junctions between these are its critical vulnerabilities)Operates covertly, employs infiltration and “front” groupsOperates covertly, employs infiltration and “front” groupsDependent on funding (taxes, crime, charity, NGOs, govts)Dependent on funding (taxes, crime, charity, NGOs, govts)Integrates tactical, operational, strategic objectives & plansIntegrates tactical, operational, strategic objectives & plansLeverages & exacerbates existing prejudices & grievancesLeverages & exacerbates existing prejudices & grievancesCarefully integrated with most other aspects of IWARCarefully integrated with most other aspects of IWARExploits time, space, and method/dimension to pose Exploits time, space, and method/dimension to pose asymmetric & perceptual challenges to conventional forcesasymmetric & perceptual challenges to conventional forcesTargets multiple audiences (locally, regionally, & globally, Targets multiple audiences (locally, regionally, & globally, to include US population) primarily in cognitive domainto include US population) primarily in cognitive domain

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Other Types of Irregular WarfareOther Types of Irregular Warfare

Economic and Financial WarfareEconomic and Financial Warfare

Diplomatic and Political WarfareDiplomatic and Political Warfare

Weather and Environmental WarfareWeather and Environmental Warfare

Cultural and Information WarfareCultural and Information Warfare

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Nature of Irregular WarfareNature of Irregular Warfare

Irregular Warfare is built upon the Irregular Warfare is built upon the principle of dislocation (neutral-principle of dislocation (neutral-ization of the strengths of the ization of the strengths of the adversary). It achieves this by adversary). It achieves this by expanding the traditional (for us) expanding the traditional (for us) theater of warfare in time, space, theater of warfare in time, space, method or dimension, thereby method or dimension, thereby taxing the capabilities of forces taxing the capabilities of forces designed for conventional warfare.designed for conventional warfare.

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Expansion in TimeExpansion in Time The adversary will deliberately prolong conflict, The adversary will deliberately prolong conflict,

knowing our aversion to protracted campaigns knowing our aversion to protracted campaigns

He does this by dispersing in the face of our strength He does this by dispersing in the face of our strength and massing only in the face of our weaknessand massing only in the face of our weakness

Where possible, he will retreat to sanctuaries and hide in Where possible, he will retreat to sanctuaries and hide in closed terrain (mountains, jungles, cities, etc.)closed terrain (mountains, jungles, cities, etc.)

He will avoid decisive engagement at all costs He will avoid decisive engagement at all costs

He will use time, and the belief that time is on his side He will use time, and the belief that time is on his side (that our influence is transitory), to intimidate local popul-(that our influence is transitory), to intimidate local popul-ations, making their resources available to him, not usations, making their resources available to him, not us

He will use time to employ all available means to attrite He will use time to employ all available means to attrite our forces, sap our morale, and subvert political support our forces, sap our morale, and subvert political support for our aims in country, in theatre, globally, and at homefor our aims in country, in theatre, globally, and at home

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Expansion in SpaceExpansion in Space The adversary will deliberately extend conflict into The adversary will deliberately extend conflict into

neighboring lands, countries, and disparate regions, neighboring lands, countries, and disparate regions, knowing our difficulty in dealing with the unboundedknowing our difficulty in dealing with the unbounded

Where possible, he will retreat to sanctuaries and hide in Where possible, he will retreat to sanctuaries and hide in closed terrain (mountains, jungles, cities, etc.)closed terrain (mountains, jungles, cities, etc.)

He will cross borders with impunity, knows that we are of-He will cross borders with impunity, knows that we are of-ten constrained from following him, or targeting him thereten constrained from following him, or targeting him there

He will threaten and harass neighboring or distant groups He will threaten and harass neighboring or distant groups or states that support our efforts, provide access to us, or or states that support our efforts, provide access to us, or fail to support himfail to support him

He will employ all available means (propaganda, subver-He will employ all available means (propaganda, subver-sion, terrorism) to further his cause throughout the world, sion, terrorism) to further his cause throughout the world, including in the United Statesincluding in the United States

He will create, cultivate, and harness support from He will create, cultivate, and harness support from expatriate communities and the disaffected, globally expatriate communities and the disaffected, globally

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Expansion in Method/DimensionExpansion in Method/Dimension The adversary will extend conflict beyond traditional, The adversary will extend conflict beyond traditional,

conventional means, and beyond the physical domainconventional means, and beyond the physical domain

He will avoid decisive engagement and force-on-force He will avoid decisive engagement and force-on-force encounters except under the most favorable circum-encounters except under the most favorable circum-stances; instead, he will target civilians and rear areas, stances; instead, he will target civilians and rear areas, using propaganda, subversion, sabotage, and terrorismusing propaganda, subversion, sabotage, and terrorism

He will often operate more like a crime syndicate than a He will often operate more like a crime syndicate than a military force, more like a warlord than a national leadermilitary force, more like a warlord than a national leader

He will avoid our strengths in the physical and informa-He will avoid our strengths in the physical and informa-tion domains & focus his efforts on the cognitive domaintion domains & focus his efforts on the cognitive domain

He will leverage our inherent cultural difficulty in anticipat-He will leverage our inherent cultural difficulty in anticipat-ing, recognizing, and responding effectively to unconven-ing, recognizing, and responding effectively to unconven-tional methods and dimensions of engagementtional methods and dimensions of engagement

He will seek to defeat us wherever we are not preparedHe will seek to defeat us wherever we are not prepared

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Irregular Warfare’s ImplicationsIrregular Warfare’s ImplicationsWe are limited in our ability to address Irregular We are limited in our ability to address Irregular Warfare’s challengesWarfare’s challenges

We can be stymied by an adversary who expands We can be stymied by an adversary who expands confrontation in time, space, or method/dimension confrontation in time, space, or method/dimension

Not anticipating or perceiving engagement outside Not anticipating or perceiving engagement outside our paradigm is a major vulnerabilityour paradigm is a major vulnerability

We need to understand the nature of IWAR and its We need to understand the nature of IWAR and its environment, develop capabilities to operate there, environment, develop capabilities to operate there, actively engage, refine our techniques and capabil-actively engage, refine our techniques and capabil-ities, and learn to both defend ourselves and prevailities, and learn to both defend ourselves and prevail

We must better prepare ourselves for Irregular We must better prepare ourselves for Irregular Warfare culturally and organizationally Warfare culturally and organizationally

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Our ChallengeOur Challenge The extraordinary challenges The extraordinary challenges

of Irregular Warfare demand of Irregular Warfare demand that we aggressively look that we aggressively look outside of our traditional outside of our traditional warfighting paradigm in order warfighting paradigm in order to adapt, create and seize to adapt, create and seize opportunities, and prevail.opportunities, and prevail.

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Lessons Learned from the FieldLessons Learned from the FieldLessons must be routinely re-learnedLessons must be routinely re-learned

Information Operations and PSYOPS are critical – Information Operations and PSYOPS are critical – the Cognitive Domain is decisivethe Cognitive Domain is decisive

Cultural awareness and language skills are criticalCultural awareness and language skills are critical

We are too prescriptive and centralized, depriving We are too prescriptive and centralized, depriving junior leaders of initiative, inhibiting the conduct of junior leaders of initiative, inhibiting the conduct of fluid operations, delaying exploitation of Tac Intel fluid operations, delaying exploitation of Tac Intel

We must understand and work better with Coali-tion We must understand and work better with Coali-tion and Interagency partners to promote synergyand Interagency partners to promote synergy

We need more focus on intelligence and logisticsWe need more focus on intelligence and logistics

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Irregular Warfare in MCOIrregular Warfare in MCOVarious forms of IWAR are usually employed togetherVarious forms of IWAR are usually employed together

Often in concert with regular (conventional) warfareOften in concert with regular (conventional) warfare

Three overlapping groupings: Three overlapping groupings: Special (Elite, Commando) Operations, Special (Elite, Commando) Operations, Militia (Guerrilla and Partisan) Operations, Militia (Guerrilla and Partisan) Operations, and Psychological (Subversion, Propaganda, and and Psychological (Subversion, Propaganda, and

Terrorism) Operations. Terrorism) Operations.

Focus on aspects of Special, Militia, and Psychological Focus on aspects of Special, Militia, and Psychological Operations that impact MCO directly Operations that impact MCO directly

Focus on mitigation of the effects of Militia and PsyOps Focus on mitigation of the effects of Militia and PsyOps targeting US-led forces conducting MCO targeting US-led forces conducting MCO

Can take form of offensive and defensive actionsCan take form of offensive and defensive actions