Deterrence and Influence in Counterterrorism: A Component in the War on al Qaeda

RAND Corporation ^ | Feb., 2003 | Paul K. Davis, Brian Michael Jenkins

[FairOpinion]

Summary: It may not be possible to deter fanatical terrorists, but members of terrorist systems may be amenable to influence. The U.S. counterterrorism strategy should therefore include political warfare, placing at risk things the terrorists hold dear, a credible threat of force against states or groups that support acquisition of weapons of mass destruction, and maintaining cooperation with other nations engaged in the war on terror, while also preserving core American values.

The research described in this report was sponsored by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

All contents below are free, downloadable PDF files. (go to the link to download the report)

RAND is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis. RAND's publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of its research sponsors.

[FairOpinion]

I think this is interesting, though it's long -- over 90 pages, but you can scan and read parts.

Keep in mind that RAND is a liberal leaning government think tank, but they still have interesting things in the report.

[Jumper]

RAND Corp understands the value of killing people:) I think Russia's Stalin siad it best, "No man, no problem." Israel has used this method, e.g., blowing the sucide bombers houses when making sweeps of PA held terrority. Fire bombs in Dresden during WWII did this; Tora Bora was a defining moment in the psych of the Taliban/Al Quadea types as well. Speakin of "well" thats a deep subject and those caves will never again see the light of day - who knows how many are no longer a problem:)