Search

This study analyzes and compares selected counterinsurgencies, including the one faced by British forces in Waziristan, Pakistan, in the 1930s, the U.S. involvement in the governance of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War, and the Afghanistan conflict since 2001. The emphasis in Afghanistan is on the Bermal district in the rural Eastern region of the country (Paktika Province). The analysis reveals that the key requirements for government stability are successfully introducing, developing, and executing plans to guide the government through Logical Lines of Operation (LLOs). Some of the primary LLOs are as follows: (1) Combat Operations/Civil Security Operations, (2) Host Nation Security Forces, (3) Essential Services, (4) Governance, and (5) Economic Development. While all the LLOs reinforce each others' success, the concept of effective governance is a critical aspect of counterinsurgency. The ability of a government to provide effective governance is especially important in rural areas like the Paktika Province in the Eastern Afghanistan, which is affected by its border with the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan. While these LLOs are not a predetermined formula for success against insurgencies, they do reflect a basic theme within the stability framework in a population-centric conflict. The study identifies four key criteria to be met for effective governance: (1) identify and recruit local leaders and organizational representatives; (2) establish or reestablish a justice system; (3) reestablish essential services that are usually provided by local governments, including education and medical services; and (4) secure the populace on a continuous basis., The original document contains color images.