Five Counterterrorism Strategies for the Next President
Five Counterterrorism Strategies for the Next President by Michael Vickers, Washington Post
As we transition to a new administration and perhaps a new counterterrorism strategy, we must objectively review what’s worked and what hasn’t so far in our wars against al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.
Strategies focused on containment haven’t worked. Our pre-9/11 strategy in particular failed to prevent terrorist attacks. Attempts fix the Middle East through regime change failed to produce a politically stable Iraq or prevent the rebirth of the Islamic State. Strategically unsound limitations on the use of precision air power and the combat employment of advisers have allowed global Islamist militant groups to maintain sanctuaries and threaten U.S. interests. And overly narrow views of the conflicts in Syria and in Yemen and insufficient pressure have allowed our adversaries to gain the upper hand.
Yet there are five counterterrorism approaches that have worked well over the past two decades. The next administration should embrace them, while adapting policy to new conditions…