Coin and counterdrug ops

Brothers,
I'm in the middle of a project. I'm writing a paper showing how COIN should be used as the model for CONUS Counterdrug Operations. I will post it for your review and comment. I did want to put this out early to see if you had any recommended reading in this regard. I have a bunch of general COIN stuff, so specifically I'm looking for 1) information on reintegation and amnesty 2) COIN and drug trafficking 3) Addressing corruption 4) COIN and long term economic development. You comments are appreciated.

I can readily recall two threads that touch on this theme:

http://council.smallwarsjournal.com/...hlight=salinas

http://council.smallwarsjournal.com/...hlight=salinas

Using the search function helps and a moderator has added the link on the RFI page:
http://council.smallwarsjournal.com/...ead.php?t=6813

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Originally Posted by Spartan6

Brothers,
I'm in the middle of a project. I'm writing a paper showing how COIN should be used as the model for CONUS Counterdrug Operations. I will post it for your review and comment. I did want to put this out early to see if you had any recommended reading in this regard. I have a bunch of general COIN stuff, so specifically I'm looking for 1) information on reintegation and amnesty 2) COIN and drug trafficking 3) Addressing corruption 4) COIN and long term economic development. You comments are appreciated.

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Spartan6, I am going to be down there (Daytona) in about 2 weeks. Want to set up a meet and I will tell you about SBW (Slapout Based Warfare) they will never know what hit them:eek: seriously I can bring some stuff that may interest you.

Here's a pretty good thesis from DA at NPS....

Accession Number : ADA451328

Title : Insurgency in the Hood: Understanding Insurgencies Through Urban Gangs

Descriptive Note : Master's thesis

Corporate Author : NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA

Personal Author(s) : Evans, Edward R. ; Spies, James R.

Handle / proxy Url : http://handle.dtic.mil/100.2/ADA451328 Check NTIS Availability...

Report Date : JUN 2006

Pagination or Media Count : 85

Abstract : Past, current and future military endeavors will invariably involve conflict at the sub-state level. A recurring problem in the study of insurgent conflict is a lack of data that has the breadth, depth, and historical accuracy to provide insight as to why, at the individual level, people participate in insurgency. Accessibility to street gangs provides a comprehensive source of data not seen in insurgencies. Street gangs provide a "ground truth" to the interaction between the state and organized sub-state group in a competition for control. The individuals who fuel both sides of this competition for control are basing decisions to participate in insurgency on a framework founded in rational actor theory, but modified by their perspective of the world. Groups who wish to recruit individuals into their insurgency apply incentives and disincentives selectively to individuals to compel membership. As a group gains more members it can apply more incentives, increasing the rate or future recruitment and level of control over a community. A comprehensive and effective strategy cannot be developed to counter these insurgent forces without answering the fundamental questions behind individual participation first. This thesis examines insurgency from the individual level and proposes concepts that must accompany any attempt to combat rebel groups.

Descriptors : *TACTICAL ANALYSIS, *INSURGENCY, CONTROL, MILITARY HISTORY, MILITARY FORCE LEVELS, URBAN AREAS, THESES, CONFLICT

Subject Categories : UNCONVENTIONAL WARFARE

Distribution Statement : APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

Search DTIC's Public STINET for similiar documents.

Members of the public may purchase hardcopy documents from the National Technical Information Service.

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http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?verb=get...fier=ADA451328

v/r

Mike

Great stuff, thanks. I will submit the draft document for your comment, mockery, snide remarks and anything else you deem constructive or entertaining. "Never surrender"

Spartan6, link to the SF paper I was talking about. Addresses some of the points you were asking questions about. Uses an older COIN format but has some good stuff in it.

http://cgsc.cdmhost.com/cgi-bin/show...ename=1815.pdf

I started considering that gangs and drug wars were simple insurgencies- just different grievances or pursuit of profit.

When you look at it objectively in that manner, it makes sense.

At least to me.

BUT, cops and soldiers are different. Anyone that has had to train Army and Cops knows that. Any soldier that has been arrested understands that.

I don't know how to minimize the gap.

v/r

Mike

We're not that different. Patrolmen are akin to Infantry in attitudes and worldview.

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Originally Posted by MikeF

I started considering that gangs and drug wars were simple insurgencies- just different grievances or pursuit of profit.

When you look at it objectively in that manner, it makes sense.

At least to me.

BUT, cops and soldiers are different. Anyone that has had to train Army and Cops knows that. Any soldier that has been arrested understands that.

I don't know how to minimize the gap.

v/r

Mike

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I think we're both tracking. There are similarities but there needs to be obvious modification. There are root causes that promote drug use and crime, but there is no desire on the part of the traffickers to create standing armies and overthrow the government. I'm not approaching this as a way to create a militarized police, but more of a way to analyze and develop a holistic, synchronized way to govern bringing multiple assets of the government to bear on the problem.

ALCON,
I've heard the Columbians have a very successful amnesty and reintegration program for former FARC memebers. Does anyone have any information on this program? Thanks.

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Originally Posted by Spartan6

ALCON,
I've heard the Columbians have a very successful amnesty and reintegration program for former FARC members. Does anyone have any information on this program? Thanks.

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Consolidating Disarmament: Lessons from Colombia’s Reintegration Program for Demobilized Paramilitaries

Individual demobilization and reintegration process in Colombia: implementation, challenges and former combatants’ perspectives

A new start, an open end. The reintegration of individual demobilized combatants in Colombia

Demobilisation of female ex-combatants in Colombia

Business and Reintegration: Cases, experiences and lessons

These last three are all by Kimberly Theidon, a Harvard anthropologist, who's churned out some on the topic in the past few years (although she does repeat herself a bit):

Transitional Subjects: The Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration of Former Combatants in Colombia

Reconstructing Masculinities: The Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration of Former Combatants in Colombia

Transitional Justice in Times of Conflict: Colombia's Ley de Justica y Paz

There's also Demobilization of Paramilitaries in Colombia: Transformation or Transition? in the June 2008 issue of Studies in Conflict and Terrorism - but full text is not available for linkage online.

Finally, not specifically focused on FARC and Colombia, but if you haven't seen it before you may find it useful:

Disarmament Demobilisation and Reintegration: A Practical Field and Classroom Guide

Thanks to everyone so far. I have a lot of reading to do. Time to fire up the coffee pot and go to Staff Ranger School. I'm sure I'll be back asking for more ideas or sources.

bite this bullet OCONUS. How in the hell does one keep up with what authorities are still in effect? Have been changed? etc....

After having read through about 6 National Defense Authorization Acts Title 10, Subtitle C in some and Subtitle E in others, I think I would rather have a car battery attached to my testicles than have to read anymore of that bull*hit.....

Additionally could use some help on the whole counter narco training development.

Gentlemen,
For your review and comment. No worries I have thick skin. In the words of the best 1SG I ever had "I might take your advice...and I might not." I had to split it in two due to file size. Understand I'm limited to 16 pages. It could easily be 80.

I would have preferred to do it in MS Word but couldn't make it work. Sorry.

For COIN and long term economic development I am affraid you will have to look a little out of the boxe.
Counterdrugs ops are prone to generate economical disaster at producers' households level. If you restrein your paper to only security, you will face a wall on that particular subject.
Reallity tend to show that one year you stop production, the next one, to recover, producers will double production. You need to get civilian agencies involved in that such as USAID.
One of the tricks is to harrass producers while protecting those who stopped. But you need to make sure that those who stopped will be the financial winners at the end. Which with drug production is not that easy. Poppy production is much more lucrative that weet.
So you almost end up in bullying producers to stop and they just can't as they need to feed their families.
It's also the limit of COIN in mid/long term. Immediat security must warranty immediat+longterm incomes. Or other material benefits such as food, energy...
But you may end up with a silly operation comparable to DDR operations.

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Originally Posted by Spartan6

Gentlemen,
For your review and comment. No worries I have thick skin. In the words of the best 1SG I ever had "I might take your advice...and I might not." I had to split it in two due to file size. Understand I'm limited to 16 pages. It could easily be 80.

I would have preferred to do it in MS Word but couldn't make it work. Sorry.

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Bump

I used to write a lot of stuff on CD before switching to COIN. I'm skeptical about comparing the two, but here are some other articles you should look at:

National Guard Counterdrug Support Lessons I -- http://handle.dtic.mil/100.2/ADA262943

National Guard Counterdrug Support Lessons II -- http://handle.dtic.mil/100.2/ADA262947

There were a total of five editions of CD support lessons, but I can't find links for numbers three to five. A consolidated version of all five editions is available through the MIPH Library, but you have to register to access it. (Registration is free): http://www.preventionconnection.net/...esourceId=3118

Also see "Can the Military's Effectiveness in the Drug Ware be Measured?" at: http://www.cato.org/pubs/journal/cj14n2/cj14n2-5.pdf

Finally, I don't have a link for a soft copy but if you have access to a good library with back issues of Military Review, see: Schnaubelt, Christopher. “Interagency Command & Control: Planning for Counterdrug Support,” Military Review 76 (September-October 1996), pp. 16-24.

This addresses CONUS operations and a lot has changed in the last 15 years since these other documents were written. We have extensive qualitative and quantitative data that shows Counterdrug operations reduce the supply and demand for drugs CONUS. Drug use amongst youth has gone down in Florida every year for the last 7 years. I'm pretty much done looking at new sources. I'm just looking for comments on the paper. Thanks.

John, good start. I concur with many of your points, and I think there are many similarities with the military COIN operations and law enforcement counter-drug operations. After study some examples of the problems, I have the utmost respect for the tremendous challenges that local police, teachers, and elected officials face on a daily basis. With that, I'll try and provide some feedback that will hopefully assist your work.

1. Examples v/s Case Studies. Throughout your paper, you provided many examples that illustrate or explain your thesis. One suggestion that may help further validate the point that you want to make is through the use of case studies. For example, you could compare and contrast the approaches used in Miami, Los Angeles, and New York. Explaining what worked and what didn't and how a COIN approach could assist solve or minimize the problem.

2. Caution on using historical examples to validate. One common difficulty in trying to prove your thesis is choosing the right supporting data. It becomes easy to use examples that support what you want to say. One example in your paper was the Sunni Awakening. That approach worked in Anbar, Baghdad and various portions of Iraq; however, it was less successful in Diyala Province. Furthermore, there is no evidence that it could be successful in Afghanistan or Mexico. So, my advice would be to explain how and why it was effective in a specific place, but also show how it did not work in others. This approach will further strengthen your argument.

On a side note, I had an interesting conversation with a retired Park Ranger that spent 30 years working with the National Park Service. He explained how they ran counter-drug operations in conjunction with the DEA, FBI, and local law enforcement agencies to limit illegal marijuana farms on federal land. I was impressed with the inter-agency cooperation, and I learned a bit more on how big this problem is and how many different groups are trying to tackle it.

Hope this helps.

Mike

Finished your paper. I hope you get to do this somewhere...much would be learned!!!! The ASCOPE analysis format could really open some peoples eyes about what is really going on in their cities. Good Luck and keep us informed of any progress on your project. Should we call it Operation....Miami Nice:D:D

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Originally Posted by Spartan6

Gentlemen,
For your review and comment. No worries I have thick skin. In the words of the best 1SG I ever had "I might take your advice...and I might not." I had to split it in two due to file size. Understand I'm limited to 16 pages. It could easily be 80.

I would have preferred to do it in MS Word but couldn't make it work. Sorry.

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Good paper (text format is fine), it makes sense and squares with some of my observations and experiences.

Three Up: I appreciated the use of vignettes, that you care about your community, and that you are using your military skills to move our country forward.

Three Down: I wonder about the funding stability/sustainability of your proposal..does the Mayor's office have the tax base for this? Do you have a business plan, metrics, and cost/benefit analysis (cost estimate for the proposed staffing)? The Sweat Equity/Community Buy In Plan could be further reinforced.

Possible assists:

Are you fully leveraging what your local public health office, juvenile detention center, community college/university, and police bring to the table in terms of funded services, grant-writing capabilities, networks, and neighborhood knowledge? Is the local community college/university interested in producing supporting GIS maps for your project as a semester project?

Here is a marketing analysis methodology and USAID Value Chain Analysis methodology which may be of assistance with your ASCOPE analysis.

You might consider getting a legal analysis/review of your project from the JAG: Posse Comitatus Act

Great points. I would include them in this paper, but I'm maxed out for pages. I do see a more detailed paper coming at some point to go over in greater detail the actual steps for execution which would include your suggestions. We are covered under Posse Comitatus as none of the Guardsmen would actually conduct arrests or other police activities. Most if not all of these issues have been resolved through legislation authorizing the National Guard to conduct Counterdrug activities. Specifically NGR 500-2/ANGI 10-801, the National Defense Authorization Acts (FY99 and FY91), and 32 USC 502(f).

Spartan6,

You appear to ignore the fact that a large % of the population buy drugs, not just those who commit crime or live in the inner city. Imagine trying your approach in Wall Street or a university town - even public co-operation there would IMHO be restricted.

In the UK I have seen figures that cite 40% of the under-25yr population use or have used some form of drugs. Which affects the legitimacy of any counter-drug action.

A better approach is to focus on the drugs that cause the most harm now - I'd suggest heroin and crack. Alongside those criminals who pose the greatest threat to the population - not the "drug lords" but the killers.

Outside the military sphere how would you write the proposal and persaude a local authority to ask for this help? I fear instead of taking the whole model they'd choose what suited them best, especially if free and minimal consequences (no more prisoners in jail).

Apologies for my belated reply.

davidbfpo

Of course the goal is not total eradication of drug use and your point is well taken for Wall street etc. This would be only in high drug trafficking areas. I think this could only be sold to communities that were desperate which is exactly where it needs to be applied. Thanks everyone for the input, it is appreciated.