The Terrorist’s Dilemma: How Non-State Actors Manage Covert Organizations
Episode 76 of the Irregular Warfare Podcast discusses the Terrorist’s Dilemma. Our guests begin by examining the tradeoffs terrorist organizations must make between maintaining security and exercising command and control. They then discuss examples of effective counterterrorist (CT) campaigns, what characterizes them, and how best to learn from past
Beyond Reapers and DJI Mavics: Are Scholars and Policymakers Ready for One-Way Attack Drones?
On March 23rd an Iranian-made one-way attack (OWA) drone struck a US-led coalition base in Syria, killing a US contractor and injuring five US servicemembers and another US contractor. It was not the first time an OWA had been used in this way. On January 20th three drones had attacked
Custer’s Last Tweet: Avoiding a Digital Little Bighorn in the Fight for Hearts and Minds
Jayson Warren, Darren Linvill, and Patrick Warren On the afternoon of June 25, 1876, Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer led five companies of the Seventh Cavalry into the valley of the Little Bighorn River, intent on pacifying the Lakota and Sioux encamped there. A veteran of previous campaigns against the
Forces of Destabilization: Countering Wagner Group in the Sahel
This piece was selected as a finalist in the undergraduate category of an essay contest co-sponsored by IWI and the Joint Staff J7 Office of Irregular Warfare and Competition (OIWC). Due to the nature of the contest, this piece is published with only minimal inputs from our editorial team. The
The Enduring Importance of Tactical Counterterrorism for Strategic Competition
This piece was selected as a finalist in an essay contest co-sponsored by IWI and the Joint Staff J7 Office of Irregular Warfare and Competition (OIWC). The views expressed do not represent the position of IWI or the US Government, including the Joint Staff J7 OIWC. In directing a redistribution
Strengthening the Medical Sphere of Influence Through Guerilla Trauma Systems and Covert Medical Intelligence Networks
Mason H. Remondelli This piece was selected as a finalist in an essay contest co-sponsored by IWI and the Joint Staff J7 Office of Irregular Warfare and Competition (OIWC). Due to the nature of the contest, this piece is published with only minimal inputs from our editorial team. The views
Over-the-Horizon and Under the Threshold: Bringing Unconventional Warfare to Ukraine
Hannah Lamb This piece was selected as a winner in the undergraduate category of an essay contest co-sponsored by IWI and the Joint Staff J7 Office of Irregular Warfare and Competition (OIWC). Due to the nature of the contest, this piece is published with only minimal inputs from our editorial
Innovative Thinking on the Role of Irregular Warfare in Strategic Competition: Key Insights from the Irregular Warfare Initiative and Joint Staff J7 Office of Irregular Warfare Essay Contest
Lisa McKinnon Munde Editor’s note: Many thanks to our judging panel including Rich Tilley, Lauren Lyons, Amy Frumin, Katherine Muther Gilmore, David “Mojo” Garten, Chris Booth, Kyle Atwell, Amber Oliva, Catrina Doxsee, Kevin Bilms, and Lisa Munde. The Irregular Warfare Initiative and the Joint Staff J7 Office of Irregular
Deterrence through Asymmetry: Preparing for Conflict in the Taiwan Strait
Episode 75 of the Irregular Warfare Podcast considers the prospect of a cross-strait conflict between China and Taiwan and the asymmetric defensive capabilities that Taipei needs to stave off an invasion by the People’s Liberation Army. Our guests begin by examining America’s longstanding policy of strategic ambiguity toward
The Lessons of 20 Years of Counterinsurgency Research
Elizabeth Radziszewski The Congressional Research Service’s November 2022 report to Congress on the implications of great power competition for US defense policy emphasizes greater focus on strengthening US high-end conventional capabilities to counter Russia and China. The final section of the report briefly notes the need to meet the
Bridging the gap between irregular warfare scholars, practitioners, and policymakers.
