Insurgent sources

[Schmedlap]

Regarding connections to Europe, a good place to start would be looking into the history and connections of Ansar al-Islam (formerly Ansar al-Sunna, former Ansar al-Islam, formerly a bunch of splinter groups that merged, such as Islamic Movement of Kurdistan, etc). They are not a big successful franchise operation like al-Qaeda, but they've got quite the worldwide network that includes Italy, Norway, and probably other European countries. I know this because I was looking into the group when it was known as Ansar al-Sunna. To speak to another point raised on this thread, I was frustrated with inaccurate and incomplete information on classified networks, so I went online and found more accurate, timely, and complete information from Jamestown.org and other reputable sources.

Not sure what ever came of this, but see also link between IRA and PLO.

[Bill Moore]

To speak to another point raised on this thread, I was frustrated with inaccurate and incomplete information on classified networks, so I went online and found more accurate, timely, and complete information from Jamestown.org and other reputable sources.

I second that one brother, the intelligence community is looking at the world through a soda straw. Somehow we got to the point that when a junior intelligence NCO or officer, with limited expertise in a particular area, writes a classified report it is considered more credible than a report by an experienced reporter (expert in the area, speaks the language, as multiple contacts) or academic. My hat is off to the analysts, they have a tough job and they do it well in most cases, my criticism is leveled towards our bias against source material. It is often very valuable, and as you stated frequently more accurate and timely.

[Schmedlap]

Here is what really bothered me - and I've asked every MI officer that I've ever worked with from BN to DIV, and from MI Co to INSCOM: does anyone compile a thorough tally of our intel for various factions? Take my earlier example of Ansar al-Islam. Let's say that I know nothing about the group and I'm going to be operating in an area where AAI operates. I need to get read up on them quickly. Where do I go for the intel? The answer from everyone that I've asked: run a query on X database or Y search tool, get a bunch of intel reports (most of them with redundant, outdated, or inaccurate information) and start reading. That makes no sense. I don't want to WRITE the report. I want to READ it. Isn't there one analyst - at least at DIV level or higher - who focuses exclusively on one faction? If not, I don't understand why. If there is, then not nearly enough people know about his work because none of the MI officers whom I spoke to seemed to know.

[slapout9]

I second John Fishel's reference to Peter Bergen. He is very good. he wrote a ten point plan for Astan not to long ago as an open letter to President Elect Obama.

One of the all time best books I read was "Thinking Like A Terrorist" he discussses some common links to the IRA and PLO if I remember.

[Surferbeetle]

H. John Poole's 2004 Tactics of the Crescent Moon (ISBN 0-9638695-7-4)

[Tom Odom]

He is on here and an excellent source and look at his book

Malcolm Nance The Terrorists of Iraq: Inside the Strategy and Tactics of the Iraq Insurgency (Paperback)

[John T. Fishel]

for not mentioning Abu Buckwheat aka Malcom Nance. I second Tom's comment.

[shfranke]

Greetings to all.

In addition to materials in the English as cited in this thread, numerous related items exist -- some published, and much online -- in other languages [specifically, Arabic, Turkish, Kurdish, Persian, Urdu, Chechen, and Russian] about where and how the bad guys now operating in Iraq and Afghanistan receive their initial training and many underwent some field OJT in other areas of conflict -- especially Chechnya and Bosnia -- before moving later to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Chechen separatists pioneered the design and use of IED of various types against the Russians. Chechens have been KIA in Iraq, notably during the second battle of Falluja. They were there as advisors, trainers/technicians, and combatants/snipers.

A pleasant surprise also to see John Fishel here. I well recall his teaching in the original six-month Foreign Area Officer Course at Fort Bragg (I was in one of the last of the FAOC classes there before "Big Army" got penny-wise and pound-foolish and "disestablished" the course, which is another saga likely more familiar to John).

Regards,

Stephen H. Franke
LTC, MI
US Army FAO (Middle East)
USAR (Retired)
San Pedro, California
[Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (again), 2006-2008]

[120mm]

H. John Poole's 2004 Tactics of the Crescent Moon (ISBN 0-9638695-7-4)

For the love of God, please, do not read anything Poole has written, except for "The Last 100 Yards."

Unless, of course, you're interested in half-truths and fiction, that is....

[William F. Owen]

For the love of God, please, do not read anything Poole has written, except for "The Last 100 Yards."

Unless, of course, you're interested in half-truths and fiction, that is....

Gotta jump in here and second this. H John Poole's "The Last 100 Yards" is excellent, and his "One more Bridge To Cross" is also worth a read.

His other stuff leave me cold. There are some excellent points, and facts, but the rest just has no supporting basis I can make sense of.

[Umar Al-Mokhtār]

if you haven't already.

http://www.counterinsurgencylibrary.org/

Abu Muqwama maintains both a Counterinsurgency Reading List and a Counterinsurgency Book Club link.

[Bob's World]

SWJ will know it has achieved relevance when captured insurgents cite to it as a source for their training.

BL, the entire WWW is the source of insurgent TTPs and information. Frustrated targeteers would love to be able to draw some "state" connection, to show that these guys are working for some third party that they can actually target. But you can't go blow up the SWJ server just because bad guys access it; and you shouldn't bomb a sovereign nation just because bad guys are transiting it or using it as sanctuary. You can however go ask the SWJ to take down their site, or go ask that HN take appropriate steps to shut down the sanctuary problem. Only once this fails do you start looking at other options.

[Ken White]

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