Role of nonmilitary activities in counterinsurgency operations

Role of nonmilitary activities in counterins The immediate post-war situation in Iraq was chaotic and free movement is virtually impossible . Iraq 's central nervous system was ripped out when Saddam Hussein 's Baath Party was kicked out from power . Tens of thousands of civil servants were fired due to their ties with the old regime . Almost half a million soldiers were displaced (Frontlines 2005

Saddam Hussein may have been toppled from power , but Iraq 's transition to a more stable and humane regime is not without opposition . Baathists loyal to Saddam

Hussein were the initial members of the resistance to coalition forces . However , as the war pushed on , funds ran low . This provided an opening for the al-Qaeda , led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and other foreign fighters , who had lots of cash and used Islamic ideology persuasive to some Iraqis to increase their influence

According to the Iraq Study Group Report (USIP , 2006 , the United States must adjust its role in Iraq to encourage the Iraqi people to take control of their own destiny . Hence , options other than military action must be identified , pursued and implemented . While security is an essential component in setting the stage for overall progress , a vibrant economy , political participation and a sense of renewed hope in the general population has its own crucial roles in ensuring victory in counterins Dillon (2007 ) states that : the main problem , though , is that military activities are not sufficient to destroy an insgovernments must be able to resolve the issues that give rise to the insdevelopment . The American military is capable of supplying government services on a limited basis only . Policymakers in Washington must move beyond purely military solutions and take advantage of the range of nonmilitary assets , including economic , social , political , and law enforcement resources . The military 's primary role is to act as a shield where nonmilitary activities will be able to operate . As per the Army 's latest counterinsconsidered primary , suggesting a ratio of 80 percent political and 20 percent military (United States Army , 2006 . As noted in FM3-24 Some of the best weapons for counterinsa well is more important than digging a foxhole , training a policeman is better than training a soldier , and restoring electricity can restore the legitimacy of a government

According to Ryan (2007 , the post Cold War trend between military and nonmilitary tasks has accelerated as western nations seek to gain victory over the insurgencies in Afghanistan and Iraq . One of the results on this convergence is an increased role for military forces in the conduct of humanitarian missions which were traditionally viewed as a role for nongovernmental organizations . Given the number of civilian agencies and the depth of their capabilities and experience that they provide , some groups may question the rationale of an expanded role for the military in reconstruction efforts . A stark reality is that in many parts of Afghanistan and Iraq , the fragile security conditions is preventing many aid groups and other government and nongovernmental agencies from fulfilling their tasks...