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Counterinsurgency Diplomacy: Political Advisors at the Operational and Tactical Levels
Title: Counterinsurgency Diplomacy: Political Advisors at the Operational and Tactical Levels
Date: May/June 2007
Author: Dan Green
Institution: Military Review
Bibliographic Entry: Green, Dan. “Counterinsurgency Diplomacy: Political Advisors at the Operational and Tactical Levels.” Military Review. May/June 2007. http://usgcoin.org/library/articles/CounterinsurgencyDiplomacy_MilRevMayJun2007.pdf (Accessed December 11, 2007).
Electronic Link: http://usgcoin.org/library/articles/CounterinsurgencyDiplomacy_MilRevMayJun2007.pdf
Key Words: COIN, counterinsurgency, diplomacy, tactics, strategy, counterterrorism, CT, Provincial Reconstruction Teams
Summary of Key Points, Issues, Conclusions:
In his observations on the insurgencies faced by the French, David Galula noted that in a revolutionary war, the operations designed to win the population over … are essentially of a political nature. Failures to recognize this have slowed/prevented timely resolutions in Afghanistan and Iraq. Creating a robust counterinsurgency capacity will require all elements of national power – diplomatic, information, military, and economic (DIME).
This article identifies DOS placements in PRTs as a very difficult but important step towards the counterinsurgency in Iraq and Afghanistan. The skills brought by trained Department of State (DOS) employees approximate many of the governance functions desperately needed in conflict and post-conflict situations, where a viable government has all but disappeared. This compliments the functions of Special Forces which are focused on finding and neutralizing insurgents. Focusing on long-term diplomatic and development goals, DOS employees are able to develop relationships in the community, which provides more political and behind the scenes information which can inform military actions.
Name of Researcher: Katie Stout
Institution: Integrative Center for Homeland Security, Texas A&M University
Date Posted: December 14, 2007