Small Wars Journal

The U.S. “Whole of Government Comprehensive Strategy’s” Nine Lines of Effort to Counter ISIL

Wed, 11/18/2015 - 12:26pm

The U.S. “Whole of Government Comprehensive Strategy’s” Nine Lines of Effort to Counter ISIL

  • Supporting Effective Governance in Iraq:  Supporting the Iraqi government on efforts to govern inclusively and effectively as well as to strengthen its cooperation with regional partners.
  • Denying ISIL Safe-Haven: Conducting a systematic campaign of airstrikes against ISIL in Iraq and Syria. Working with the Iraqi government, striking ISIL targets and supporting Iraqi forces on the ground. Degrading ISIL’s leadership, logistical and operational capability, and deny it sanctuary and resources to plan, prepare and execute attacks.
  • Building Partner Capacity: Build the capability and capacity of partners in the region to sustain an effective long-term campaign against ISIL. Advisors to advise Iraqi forces, including Kurdish forces, to improve their ability to plan, lead, and conduct operations against ISIL, and providing training to help Iraqis reconstitute their security forces and establish a National Guard.  A train and equip program to strengthen the Syrian moderate opposition and help the defend territory from ISIL.
  • Enhancing Intelligence Collection on ISIL:  Continue to gain more fidelity on ISIL’s capabilities, plans, and intentions is central to the strategy to degrade and ultimately destroy the group, and continue to strengthen ability to understand this threat, as well as to share vital information with Iraqi and Coalition partners to enable them to effectively counter ISIL.
  • Disrupting ISIL’s Finances:  ISIL’s expansion over the past year has given it access to significant and diverse sources of funding.  Work aggressively with partners on a coordinated approach to reduce ISIL’s revenue from oil and assets it has plundered; limit ISIL’s ability to extort local populations; stem ISIL’s gains from kidnapping for ransom; and disrupt the flow of external donations to the group. 
  • Exposing ISIL’s True Nature:  Work with partners throughout the Muslim world to highlight ISIL’s hypocrisy and counter its false claims of acting in the name of religion.  
  • Disrupting the Flow of Foreign Fighters: Continue to lead an international effort to stem the flow of fighters into Syria and Iraq.
  • Protecting the Homeland: Continue to use the criminal justice system as a critical counterterrorism tool, work with air carriers to implement responsible threat-based security and screening requirements, and counter violent extremism here at home. 
  • Humanitarian Support:  Along with partners continue to provide humanitarian assistance to the displaced and vulnerable in Iraq and Syria.

Comments

Madhu (not verified)

Thu, 11/19/2015 - 10:04am

In reply to by Madhu (not verified)

At one point to you begin to think critically or does that just lead to depression and wanting to quit? Then why not speak up? There is comfort in numbers, isn't there?

Well, I'm not on the inside. Do what you think is best but people tune out if they keep hearing the same old nonsense, again and again.

This is like how Central Command kept harping on its cooperation with Islamabad in the early days of the Afghan campaign, except, wait a minute, the American right and left kinda bought into that crap for a while because they are not interested in general in that part of the world outside of a few generic points of interest.

Let's work with the Saudis to counter ISIL funding and with the Pakistanis to counter the Taliban because the persuasive powers of the Borg are so awesome.

Next Up: The West Point Thayer Leadership Development group and a bunch of CEOs presiding over the transfer of American manufacturing everywhere and anywhere without thinking about how we are going to still keep and grow a healthy middle class! CEO as supermen and women.

Do you all go on hikes and discuss your favorite Harvard Business school vignette? Is it bracing and wonderful, intellectual and fulfilling?

Madhu (not verified)

Thu, 11/19/2015 - 9:56am

An excellent whole-of-government strategy from the State Department:

<blockquote>Establishment of the Counter-ISIL Finance Group in Rome, Italy

Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
March 20, 2015
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Co-led by Italy, <strong>Saudi Arabia</strong>, and the United States, Coalition Members Agree on Action Plan to Combat ISIL’s Financial Networks

Italy, Saudi Arabia, and the United States on March 19-20 co-led the inaugural meeting of the Counter-ISIL Finance Group (CIFG) in Rome, Italy. Representatives from 26 countries and several multilateral organizations met to agree on an Action Plan to further their understanding of ISIL’s financial and economic activities, share relevant information, and develop and coordinate efforts to combat ISIL’s financial activities.</blockquote>

Saw it on that Moon of Alabama dude's twitter feed.

What's it like to be inside the Borg and believe in this stuff? Is it like being indoctrinated into a cult? Well, I don't have a whole MASTERS DEGREE in Peace Operations so what could I know? (I know, the last bit is not very nice but that whole crew is so sure of itself the ego-balloon ought to be rhetorically punctured, you know?)

Mark Pyruz

Wed, 11/18/2015 - 3:30pm

This appears fine, even dandy. However...

What about the Russo-Iranian war against Salafi Jihadist extremists in Syria? The Iranian war against ISIL in Iraq?

What about Turkish and Saudi support for Salafi Jihadist extremists in Syria?

And here's the million dollar question, so to speak... what about the U.S. role in supporting Salafi Jihadist extremism as candidly detailed by none other than LTG Flynn? Unfamiliar? Here's a rendering by MI6 Officer Crooke:

https://consortiumnews.com/2015/11/17/lost-on-the-dark-side-in-syria/

slapout9

Wed, 11/18/2015 - 1:40pm

Excellant post SWJ.Need to have a tax to pay for this. Everyone should pay except the military. If you can't fight for your country then you can support it with taxes.