Precipitating the Decline of Al-Shabaab: A Case Study in Leadership Decapitation - Killing Emir Ahmed Godane, al-Qaeda, Terror Threat, Guerrilla Warfare, Amniyat Role in Organizational Resilience

Nonfiction, History, Military, Social & Cultural Studies, Political Science
Cover of the book Precipitating the Decline of Al-Shabaab: A Case Study in Leadership Decapitation - Killing Emir Ahmed Godane, al-Qaeda, Terror Threat, Guerrilla Warfare, Amniyat Role in Organizational Resilience by Progressive Management, Progressive Management
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Progressive Management ISBN: 9781370054077
Publisher: Progressive Management Publication: December 15, 2016
Imprint: Smashwords Edition Language: English
Author: Progressive Management
ISBN: 9781370054077
Publisher: Progressive Management
Publication: December 15, 2016
Imprint: Smashwords Edition
Language: English

This excellent report has been professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction. The tactic of leadership decapitation, using military action to capture or kill terrorist leadership, is a key component of United States counterterrorism strategy. Policymakers argue that eliminating terrorist leadership is an effective way to disrupt, and, ultimately, destroy terrorist organizations. Since 2001, hundreds of terrorist leaders have been captured or killed by U.S. counterterrorism operations. In spite of this, the spread of violent, radical jihadist groups like Al-Shabaab has expanded and grown in strength. This study analyzes the United States' approach of leadership targeting toward Al-Shabaab in Somalia, and asks the research question: Under what conditions are leadership decapitation effective in degrading the terrorist group Al-Shabaab? This study finds that leadership decapitation operations have a limited effect in disrupting and preventing future acts of terrorism. It argues for a more analytical approach to leadership decapitation in order to improve its effectiveness. This study argues for leadership targeting principles that are likely to be effective counterterrorism strategies and lead to the long-term decline of the group, including basing targeting decisions on understanding the group' s internal dynamics, integrating decapitation operations into comprehensive counterterrorism strategies, and capitalizing on existing leadership divisions, which can be as effective as lethal military action.

On September 5, 2014, the United States military officially confirmed the death of Ahmed Godane, Al-Shabaab's Emir since 2008, remarking that, "removing Godane from the battlefield is a major symbolic and operational loss to Al-Shabaab."1 Decapitating Al-Shabaab's co-founder removed a charismatic yet divisive leader that recently merged the group with Al-Qaeda.2 Godane's elimination left the group exposed and vulnerable to fracture, leaving some analysts guessing if the most recent leadership strike signaled the death knell of the pressured group. According to analyst Tres Thomas, "given the divisive and dictatorial nature of Godane's leadership ... his death would result in an increasing number of defectors and bring the inevitable break-up of the group."3 However, more than a year after the decapitation strike little has changed. Godane's successor, Abu Ubaidah, has reaffirmed his allegiance to Al-Qaeda; Al-Shabaab carried out a brutal attack on Kenyan Students at Garissa University College killing 147 students4 and continues to conduct devastating raids on African Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) peacekeepers.5 Godane's removal is a paradox of leadership targeting. During his tenure, Al-Shabaab reached the height of its territorial, administrative, economic, and military power. It was also under his leadership, however, that Al-Shabaab fell into decline, losing great swaths of territory, key sources of income, and purging Al-Shabaab's most experienced leadership. The death of Ahmed Godane typifies the leadership targeting campaign against Al-Shabaab—the United States has dealt devastating blows to Al-Shabaab's leadership, but nothing proved decisive enough to defeat the group. It is also wrought with uncertainty, with no clear answers as to who would succeed Godane, or whether Al-Shabaab would respond the way many analysts have predicted, with a splintering of the group. Moreover, would Godane's death contribute to the decisive factor in leadership decapitation—organizational decline of the group?

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

This excellent report has been professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction. The tactic of leadership decapitation, using military action to capture or kill terrorist leadership, is a key component of United States counterterrorism strategy. Policymakers argue that eliminating terrorist leadership is an effective way to disrupt, and, ultimately, destroy terrorist organizations. Since 2001, hundreds of terrorist leaders have been captured or killed by U.S. counterterrorism operations. In spite of this, the spread of violent, radical jihadist groups like Al-Shabaab has expanded and grown in strength. This study analyzes the United States' approach of leadership targeting toward Al-Shabaab in Somalia, and asks the research question: Under what conditions are leadership decapitation effective in degrading the terrorist group Al-Shabaab? This study finds that leadership decapitation operations have a limited effect in disrupting and preventing future acts of terrorism. It argues for a more analytical approach to leadership decapitation in order to improve its effectiveness. This study argues for leadership targeting principles that are likely to be effective counterterrorism strategies and lead to the long-term decline of the group, including basing targeting decisions on understanding the group' s internal dynamics, integrating decapitation operations into comprehensive counterterrorism strategies, and capitalizing on existing leadership divisions, which can be as effective as lethal military action.

On September 5, 2014, the United States military officially confirmed the death of Ahmed Godane, Al-Shabaab's Emir since 2008, remarking that, "removing Godane from the battlefield is a major symbolic and operational loss to Al-Shabaab."1 Decapitating Al-Shabaab's co-founder removed a charismatic yet divisive leader that recently merged the group with Al-Qaeda.2 Godane's elimination left the group exposed and vulnerable to fracture, leaving some analysts guessing if the most recent leadership strike signaled the death knell of the pressured group. According to analyst Tres Thomas, "given the divisive and dictatorial nature of Godane's leadership ... his death would result in an increasing number of defectors and bring the inevitable break-up of the group."3 However, more than a year after the decapitation strike little has changed. Godane's successor, Abu Ubaidah, has reaffirmed his allegiance to Al-Qaeda; Al-Shabaab carried out a brutal attack on Kenyan Students at Garissa University College killing 147 students4 and continues to conduct devastating raids on African Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) peacekeepers.5 Godane's removal is a paradox of leadership targeting. During his tenure, Al-Shabaab reached the height of its territorial, administrative, economic, and military power. It was also under his leadership, however, that Al-Shabaab fell into decline, losing great swaths of territory, key sources of income, and purging Al-Shabaab's most experienced leadership. The death of Ahmed Godane typifies the leadership targeting campaign against Al-Shabaab—the United States has dealt devastating blows to Al-Shabaab's leadership, but nothing proved decisive enough to defeat the group. It is also wrought with uncertainty, with no clear answers as to who would succeed Godane, or whether Al-Shabaab would respond the way many analysts have predicted, with a splintering of the group. Moreover, would Godane's death contribute to the decisive factor in leadership decapitation—organizational decline of the group?

More books from Progressive Management

Cover of the book Apollo Medical Operations Project: Recommendations to Improve Crew Health and Performance for Future Exploration Missions and Lunar Surface Operations - EVA, Food, Hygiene, Illness, Radiation Issues by Progressive Management
Cover of the book From the Mind to the Feet: Assessing the Perception-to-Intent-to-Action Dynamic - Adversary and Enemy Intent, Gauging Intent, Decisionmaking, Motive, Neuroscience, Proliferators, Deterrence by Progressive Management
Cover of the book The U.S. Counterterrorism Strategy: Addressing Radical Ideologies - Study Focusing on Al-Qaeda and ISIS Islamism and Violent Extremism, Evaluation of Preemptive and Preventive Approaches by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Eisenhower: Military Assistance Policies During the Eisenhower Administration - Shaped by World Events, Reorganization Around Findings of Draper Committee, Five Regional Policies by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 21st Century FEMA Study Course: An Introduction to Emergency Management Exercises (IS-120.A) - Managing, Designing, Conducting, Evaluating by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 21st Century U.S. Military Documents: Antiterrorism (Air Force Instruction 10-245 21) - AT Program, Standards, Force Protection, Terrorist Threat Levels, Suspicious Activity by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Fermilab Radiological Control Program Manual: ALARA, Radioactive Material Control, Waste Management, Dosimetry, Monitoring, Exposure, Health Support, Surveys, Accelerators by Progressive Management
Cover of the book China's Role in Counter-Piracy Operations: Gulf of Aden (GOA), Southeast Asia, Cooperating with Other Navies, PLAN Modernization, ASEAN Economic Relationship, Somali Piracy, Mahanian Philosophy by Progressive Management
Cover of the book The Cape: Military Space Operations 1971-1992 - USAF Space Programs, Space Shuttle, Titan Rocket, Delta II, Navstar, Atlas/Centaur, Starbird, Red Tigress by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Air Warfare and Air Base Air Defense 1914-1973: Sweeping Study of Air Force Defenses of Air Bases Around the World, World War I and II, Blitzkrieg, Korea, Southeast Asia, Middle East, Six Day War by Progressive Management
Cover of the book The Air Force in Southeast Asia: Tactics and Techniques of Electronic Warfare - Electronic Countermeasures in the Air War Against North Vietnam 1965-1973 - Wild Weasel, Linebacker, B-52 by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Advanced Commercial Nuclear Reactor Licensing, Report to Congress: Innovative New Designs, Gas-Cooled, Sodium Fast, Small Module, Liquid Metal, Next Generation Nuclear Plant by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Libya's Operation Odyssey Dawn: Analysis of the American Military Operation, Removal of the Gaddafi Regime, NATO's Air War, Command and Control Issues, Responsibility to Protect (R2P) by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 21st Century U.S. Military Manuals: The Manual for Military Commissions (MMC) - Prosecution of Alien Unlawful Enemy Combatants, Rules of Evidence, Crimes (Value-added Professional Format Series) by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 21st Century Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute (PKSOI) Papers - U.S. Military Forces and Police Assistance in Stability Operations: The Least-Worst Option to Fill the U.S. Capacity Gap by Progressive Management
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy