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U.S. Drone Attack Strategy Against Al-Qaeda May Be Wrong

An anonymous reader writes "A new study (abstract) in the journal Informational Security evaluates the U.S. military's strategy for killing off al-Qaeda's leadership using remote drone strikes. The study argues that the strategy is ineffective, calling into question both the military's rationale for doing so and the allocation of defense funds to run it. Essentially, there are two different types of terrorist organizations: those held together by a small number of charismatic leaders, and those who have developed their own bureaucracy, almost like a business. 'Companies don't fall apart when they lose their CEO or CFO; other people are being trained to do that job and there are institutional mechanisms preserving the knowledge the CEO brought to the table. Also, rules create clear lines of succession, so destabilizing struggles over who gets to take over the group's leadership become less likely.'

Intelligence on al-Qaeda indicates it's more of a bureaucratic group — unsurprising, since terrorist organizations that have been around for a while tend to evolve that way. Since the drone attacks started, there has been no significant correlation between successful strikes and a reduction in al-Qaeda attacks. 'The case for the drone program, at its heart, is that killing significant numbers of underlings AND a small number of high-level leaders is severely weakening the group's operating ability. Jordan's study suggests that al-Qaeda just isn't the kind of group that can be beaten that way.'"

6 of 433 comments (clear)

  1. If you have the opportunity by Dr_b_ · · Score: 1, Funny

    The solution is to eliminate all members and the supporting population.

    1. Re:If you have the opportunity by peragrin · · Score: 5, Funny

      Nuke the site from orbit. It is the only way to be sure.

      --
      i thought once I was found, but it was only a dream.
    2. Re:If you have the opportunity by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Nuke the site from orbit. It is the only way to be sure.

      Well, that would be rather harsh towards Maryland and Virginia, wouldn't it?

  2. But But But... by CajunArson · · Score: 2, Funny

    We've been told that Al Queda isn't real and that there aren't really any terrorist organizations. It's all a neocon plot.

    So basically, how can drone strikes or any other strategy be effective or ineffective against something that doesn't exist?

    --
    AntiFA: An abbreviation for Anti First Amendment.
  3. Geneva Conventions, whassat? by ikhider · · Score: 3, Funny

    As long as the drone targets are persons of color and poor ones at that, it does not matter about so-called "collateral damage". The US of A is militarily superior and therefore in their legal rights to do as they wish, without concern of consequences. We are on a mission to bring freedom and democracy to these people, and if it takes a lot of drones and a lot of collateral damage, than so be it. Here is an important link on the topic: http://drones.pitchinteractive...? These people in Pakistan/Afghanistan need to be educated about freedom, the hard way. http://www.clowncrack.com/wp-c... America is doing all it can to correct these people and those who contest her policies are a bunch of unpatriotic cowards.

    --
    "SO we bide our time, waiting for a purer kick to bloom and the future is still bleak, uncertain and beautiful" -GSYBE
  4. Re:The Air Force never wins wars. Film at 11. by krashnburn200 · · Score: 3, Funny

    It's called planning ahead.
    someone has to figure out how to keep the funding up and get the patriot act made permanent.