Dominating Conflict’s Leading Edge: Five Principles for an Assertive Irregular Warfare Doctrine

Dominating Conflict’s Leading Edge: Five Principles for an Assertive Irregular Warfare Doctrine by Brandon Kirch is published by the Irregular Warfare Initiative.

The article addresses the complex geopolitical challenges facing the US in 2024, focusing on Irregular Warfare (IW) strategies to manage gray zone conflicts and global security threats. The article presents five critical principles for an assertive approach to irregular warfare. Find the article here.

From Brandon Kirch:

A new US president took office on January 20th, and will confront a dangerous national security environment shaped by Irregular Warfare (IW) challenges. From cyber warfare and gray zone conflicts to terrorism and insurgency, these challenges demand immediate, actionable solutions. As 2024 came to a close, the Irregular Warfare Initiative invited readers to contribute fresh, pragmatic, and non-partisan policy recommendations to help shape the next administration’s approach to these threats. In our third article, Brandon Kirch presents the five key pillars to a new irregular warfare strategy.

Over the course of one week in late October, North Korean troops appeared in Ukraine, Israel launched retaliatory air strikes against Iran, and news broke that Russia provided targeting data to the Houthis in support of their effort to disrupt global shipping. These events occurred less than a month after Israel invaded Lebanon, and only two weeks before a US presidential election. More recently, Syria’s Assad Regime collapsed entirely and was replaced by a new government rife with terrorist affiliations. As a tepid ceasefire in Lebanon approaches its expiration date, the time and space between international escalation cycles is decreasing. The Trump administration has taken office amidst a volatile geopolitical environment that will likely demand a majority of their bandwidth for the term’s first 100 days, if not longer. A layered irregular warfare strategy will be essential if the US wishes to avoid further destabilization and reverse the ever-increasing risk of direct involvement in a broader war. Though specifics will depend on the events which unfold during the term, here are five principles that should be applied to develop an irregular warfare (IW) strategy to manage the gray zone’s current challenges.

Five Key Principles:

1. Accept Risk
   • Key Insight: Overcome the fear of escalation and be proactive in responding to adversarial actions.
   • Relevance: Challenges the “de-escalation cult” by arguing that measured, offensive responses are necessary to maintain credibility.
   • Example: Responding directly to Houthi shipping lane harassment with targeted leadership strikes.
2. Proxy Deterrence
   • Key Insight: Arm and equip allies to create a “bloodletting” strategy that makes conflicts costly for aggressors.
   • Strategic Focus: Prioritize support for countries like Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and extend to other allies such as Kenya, Jordan, India, etc.
   • Innovative Approach: Consider supporting non-state resistance groups (e.g., anti-Taliban resistance in Afghanistan)
3. Information Exposure
   • Key Insight: Combat disinformation through subtle, indirect revelation strategies.
   • Methodology: Use commercial and media sectors to expose adversary lies without direct government attribution.
   • Goal: Overcome public skepticism and effectively counter information warfare efforts.
4. Aggressive Economic Posture
   • Key Insights:
     • Counter China’s attempts to replace the US dollar
     • Disrupt Belt and Road Initiative
     • Decouple supply chains from potentially hostile economies
   • Strategic Recommendations:
     • Highlight flaws in Chinese development projects
     • Relocate critical manufacturing to friendly emerging economies
     • Diversify energy sources and reduce dependency
5. Don’t Overthink It
   • Key Insight: Irregular warfare is a holistic methodology, not a separate domain.
   • Recommendation: Utilize existing DoD and inter-agency resources
   • Caution: Avoid creating new bureaucratic structures
   • Complementary Approach: Maintain robust conventional force capabilities

Overall Significance

The article argues that these principles can:

• Protect US interests
• Prevent conflict escalation
• Address public concerns about foreign involvement
• Maintain strategic dominance through nuanced, indirect methods

For a more in depth analysis, read the full article here.