Addendum: Anbar AwakensColonel Sean MacFarland, U.S. Army
A major player in the Anbar Awakening recalls how joint-force cooperation led to the turnaround in Ramadi.
The Most Important Thing: Legislative Reform of the National Security SystemJames R. Locher III
Whatever its adequacy in a former era, today’s national security system is an inefficient anachronism. We need sweeping reforms that create a much more agile system.
The Story Behind the National Security Act of 1947Charles A. Stevenson, Ph.D.
The National Defense Act of 1947 was meant to reorganize and merge the armed forces, but the fight for reform was an uphill one.
Money as a Force Multiplier in COINLieutenant Colonel Leonard J. DeFrancisci, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve
During the second battle of Fallujah, civil affairs teams in Marine Regimental Combat Team 1 wielded money to shape the battlespace.
Reforming the Madrasah: A Disregarded Dimension in the War on TerrorismMajor Todd Schmidt, U.S. Army
Replacing extremist religious indoctrination with useful education in the madrasah system should be an aspect of the total effort to defeat terror.
From Enduring Strife to Enduring Peace in the PhilippinesMajor Gary J. Morea, U.S. Army
Islamic separatists in the Mindanao island group are slowly being assimilated back into Philippine society through a process of amnesty, reintegration, and reconciliation.
Title 10 Domestic Humanitarian Assistance: New OrleansMajor Michael C. Donahue, U.S. Army
The Black Jack Brigade’s efforts in support of Hurricane Katrina relief operations offer insights into the use of Title 10 forces for domestic crisis.
The Taliban: An Organizational AnalysisMajor Shahid Afsar, Pakistan Army; Major Chris Samples, U.S. Army; and Major Thomas Wood, U.S. Army
What makes the Taliban tick? Experts lay out the nuts and bolts of the organization in a rare look at the history and development of the enemy in Afghanistan.
The Al-Qaeda Media MachinePhilip Seib, J.D.
Sophisticated information operations are not beyond Al-Qaeda’s capabilities—it readily adapts old-fashioned manipulation techniques to modern-day media technologies.
Transition Teams: Adapt and WinCaptain William C. Taylor, U.S. Army
Destined for a transition team? A veteran team member suggests recipes for successful integration and effective mentoring.
Constructive Engagement: A Proven Method for Conducting Stability and Support OperationsReprint from Landpower Essay No. 07-1, February 2007, An Institute of Land Warfare Publication Sergeant Major Martin Rodriguez, U.S. Army, Retired; Major Andrew Farnsler, U.S. Army; and John Bott
Two case studies provide ideas about how to effectively integrate stability operations.
Will the Army Ever Learn Good Media Relations Techniques?Walter Reed as a Case StudyColonel James T. Currie, U.S. Army Reserve, Retired, Ph.D.
If you are looking for a near-perfect case study of how not to deal with the press, the Walter Reed Army Medical Center controversy would be a great place to start.
Insights
Through an Arab Cultural LensHelen Altman Klein, Ph.D., and Gilbert Kuperman
Avoid Western chauvinism and the dangers of a parochial mind-set by glimpsing how others see the world.
Islam and SymbolismFirst Sergeant António Rodrigues, Portuguese Army
Like all cultures, Islamic ones employ an array of iconography. Familiarize yourself with the Muslim world of poetic symbolism to gain a better understanding of the Middle East.
