Air Power in the New counterinsurgency Era: The Strategic Importance of USAF Advisory and Assistance Missions

by Alan J. Vick, Adam Grissom, William Rosenau, Beth Grill, Karl P. Mueller

Overview

History shows that an afflicted nation must itself defeat an insurgency politically and militarily, and the best way to help is to offer advice, training, and equipment.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780833039637
Publisher:	RAND Corporation
Publication date:	12/12/2006
Pages:	180
Product dimensions:	6.11(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.54(d)

Table of Contents

Preface     iii
Figures     xi
Tables     xiii
Summary     xv
Acknowledgments     xix
Abbreviations     xxiii
Introduction     1
Background     1
The Dilemma of Intervention     4
Purpose and Organization of This Monograph     6
The Evolving Insurgency Challenge     7
Introduction     7
Defining Insurgency     8
Categorizing Insurgencies     12
Sources of Insurgency     16
Insurgency and U.S. Security     20
Conclusion     25
The Challenge of Counterinsurgency: Lessons from the Cold War and After     27
Introduction     27
Four Principles     32
Understand the Adversary     32
Build State Capacity and Presence     37
Control the Population     41
Keep the Use of Force to a Minimum     45
Conclusion     50
Grand Strategy and Counterinsurgency     53
Introduction     53
Assessing Insurgent Threats to U.S. National Security     54
When Do Insurgencies Threaten U.S. Security Interests?     54
The Importance of Insurgency and Counterinsurgency in Future U.S. Grand Strategy     57
Grand Strategies for Small Wars     59
Differences Between Counterinsurgency and Conventional Military Requirements     59
Differences Between Counterinsurgency and Conventional Military Strategy     62
Coercion in Counterinsurgency     64
Options for Counterinsurgency Intervention     69
The Diversity of Counterinsurgency     69
Ideal Types: Precautionary and Remedial Counterinsurgency     70
Advantages and Limitations of Precautionary Counterinsurgency     72
Investing in Counterinsurgency Capabilities     74
Optimizing Military Capabilities for Counterinsurgency     74
When, How, and Where Will the United States Intervene?     76
The Roles of Allies in Counterinsurgency     77
A New Framework for Understanding and Responding to Insurgencies     81
The Application of Military Power to Counterinsurgency     81
Security Cooperation and Foreign Internal Defense     93
Some Caveats on Early Intervention     100
The Power and Limitations of Military Assistance: The El Salvador Experience     101
El Salvador: Lessons for Future Counterinsurgency Operations     107
The USAF Role in Countering Insurgencies     109
The Role of Air Power in Counterinsurgency Operations     109
How Should We Think About the Role of Air Power in Counterinsurgency?     112
Limiting Adversary Conventional Options     113
Balancing Insurgent Advantages     113
Gaining the Initiative     114
Current USAF Operational Aviation Advising Activities     115
6 SOS History     115
Mission     117
Typical Engagements     118
Squadron Organization     119
Manning and Training     120
Trends in Operational Aviation Activity Since 9/11     121
Estimating Demand for Operational Aviation Advising     126
Estimating the Personnel Required for Aviation Advising Missions     130
Applying the Metric: Manpower Requirements for an Illustrative Precautionary Strategy     131
Expanding and Deepening USAF Capabilities to Counter Insurgencies     132
Make Counterinsurgency an Institutional Priority     133
Create Organizations and Processes to Oversee USAF Counterinsurgency Efforts     133
Develop and Nurture Counterinsurgency Expertise Throughout USAF     135
Create a Wing-Level Organization for Aviation Advising     136
Enhance USAF Combat Capabilities for Counterinsurgency     146
Conclusions     149
Final Thoughts     150
Appendixes
States Afflicted by Insurgency     153
Estimating Manpower Requirements for Advisory Assistance     155
Bibliography     159