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Irregular Warfarein the

Major Combat Operations

Joint Operating Concept

Richard Maltz


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PurposeShare results of current research on IWAR

Provide forum for discussion of IWAR

Frame the IWAR challenge in MCO context


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This is another type of warfare - new in

its intensity, ancient in its origin - warby guerrillas, subversives, insurgents,

assassins; war by ambush instead of

by combat, by infiltration instead of

aggression, seeking victory by eroding

and exhausting the enemy instead of

engaging himit preys on unrest

John F. Kennedy

US Naval AcademyJune 6, 1962


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New Security Environment

Means:Adversary can plan and communicate at the speedof internet; maneuver at the speed of aircraft; seeminglyunlimited personnel; unconstrained by organizational ornational restrictions

Motivation: Adversary is motivated by zealous ideologies

and hate; nothing we would recognize as political; there isno theoretical option for negotiation or compromise

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

Organization: Adversary is networked, unconstrained byhierarchical, often-ponderousdecision-making constructs

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

-- Culled from Address by Admiral Giambastiani


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

Combat waged by armed forces of nation states

Observation of set rules and laws of warfare

Large generic military formations

Set geographic boundaries of operations

Set demographic boundaries with distinct combatants

and noncombatants

Generally brief periods of high intensity conflict

Large confrontations and set-piece battles

Uniformed combatants

Force-on-force engagements leading to defeat of one

sides forces

Emphasis on decisive combat as means to victory


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

Combat by forces other than those of statesLack of observation of set rules and laws of warfare

Small specialized (often elite) military formations

Few rigid geographic boundaries of operations

Elastic demographic boundaries, little distinction betweencombatants and noncombatants; deliberate, sometimespredominant targeting of civilians

Generally protracted low-intensity conflict

Evasion of large confrontations and battles in favor of

harassment and attritionCombatants in civilian clothing

Population-on-force engagements leading to attrition anddemoralization of regular forces

Psychological warfare as the means to victory


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Forms of Irregular Warfare

Guerrilla Warfare

Propaganda

Special Operations

Subversion

Terrorism


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DefinitionsGuerrilla Warfare(DOD, NATO) Military and paramilitary operationsconducted in enemy-held or hostile territory by irregular, predominantly

indigenous forces. Also called GW. See also unconventional warfare.

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

Special Operations(DOD) Operations conducted in sensitive environ-ments to achieve objectives employing military capabilities for which there isno broad conventional force often require covert, clandestine, or low visibilitycapabilities can be conducted independently or in conjunction with opera-tions of conventional forces or other government agencies and may include indigenous or surrogate forces differ from conventional operations in degreeof physical and political risk, operational techniques, mode of employment,

independence from friendly support, and dependence on detailed operationalintelligence and indigenous assets. Also called SO.

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

Terrorism(Unofficial; official definitions were not deemed to be useful)

Deliberate threat or use of violence against civilians for political purposes


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Critical Elements of Irregular Warfare

Tailored to the political, social, economic, and militaryconditions of the targeted areas and populations

Highly dependent on motivation and ideology of followers

Composed of execution cells, support infrastructure (alsooften in cells), and a base of popular and media support

(the junctions between these are its critical vulnerabilities)Operates covertly, employs infiltration and front groups

Dependent on funding (taxes, crime, charity, NGOs, govts)

Integrates tactical, operational, strategic objectives & plans

Leverages & exacerbates existing prejudices & grievances

Carefully integrated with most other aspects of IWARExploits time, space, and method/dimension to poseasymmetric & perceptual challenges to conventional forces

Targets multiple audiences (locally, regionally, & globally,to include US population) primarily in cognitive domain


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Other Types of Irregular Warfare

Economic and Financial Warfare

Diplomatic and Political Warfare

Weather and Environmental Warfare

Cultural and Information Warfare


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Nature of Irregular Warfare

Irregular Warfare is built upon theprinciple of dislocation (neutral-

ization of the strengths of theadversary). It achieves this byexpanding the traditional (for us)theater of warfare in time, space,method or dimension, therebytaxing the capabilities of forcesdesigned for conventional warfare.


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Expansion in Time

The adversary will deliberately prolong conflict,knowing our aversion to protracted campaigns

He does this by dispersing in the face of our strengthand massing only in the face of our weakness

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

He will avoid decisive engagement at all costs

He will use time, and the belief that time is on his side(that our influence is transitory), to intimidate local popul-

ations, making their resources available to him, not usHe will use time to employ all available means to attriteour forces, sap our morale, and subvert political supportfor our aims in country, in theatre, globally, and at home

U l ifi d


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Expansion in Space

The adversary will deliberately extend conflict intoneighboring lands, countries, and disparate regions,knowing our difficulty in dealing with the unbounded

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

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

He will threaten and harass neighboring or distant groupsor states that support our efforts, provide access to us, orfail to support him

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

He will create, cultivate, and harness support from

expatriate communities and the disaffected, globally

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Expansion in Method/Dimension

The adversary will extend conflict beyond traditional,conventional means, and beyond the physical domain

He will avoid decisive engagement and force-on-forceencounters except under the most favorable circum-stances; instead, he will target civilians and rear areas,

using propaganda, subversion, sabotage, and terrorismHe will often operate more like a crime syndicate than amilitary force, more like a warlord than a national leader

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

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

He will seek to defeat us wherever we are not prepared

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Irregular Warfares Implications

We are limited in our ability to address IrregularWarfares challenges

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

Not anticipating or perceiving engagement outsideour paradigm is a major vulnerability

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

We must better prepare ourselves for IrregularWarfare culturally and organizationally

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Our Challenge

The extraordinary challengesof Irregular Warfare demand

that we aggressively lookoutside of our traditional

warfighting paradigm in orderto adapt, create and seizeopportunities, and prevail.

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Lessons Learned from the Field

Lessons must be routinely re-learned

Information Operations and PSYOPS are critical

the Cognitive Domain is decisive

Cultural awareness and language skills are criticalWe are too prescriptive and centralized, depriving

junior leaders of initiative, inhibiting the conduct of

fluid operations, delaying exploitation of Tac Intel

We must understand and work better with Coali-

tion and Interagency partners to promote synergy

We need more focus on intelligence and logistics

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Irregular Warfare in MCO

Various forms of IWAR are usually employed together

Often in concert with regular (conventional) warfare

Three overlapping groupings:

Special (Elite, Commando) Operations,

Militia (Guerrilla and Partisan) Operations,

and Psychological (Subversion, Propaganda, andTerrorism) Operations.

Focus on aspects of Special, Militia, and Psychological

Operations that impact MCO directly

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

Can take form of offensive and defensive actions

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