Defeating Violent Nonstate Actors

Abstract

AbstrAct: The role of landpower " at war " is as integral to US de-fense needs as landpower " short of war. " But what about the role of landpower between these two in environments in which violent nonstate actors dominate? In such cases, it is best to devolve oppos-ing violent nonstate actors as quickly as possible so policing forces can implement follow-on strategies. Landpower can help provide security conditions under which these strategies can be facilitated. And just like their allies in Al Qaeda, this new Taliban is more network than army, more of a community of interest than a corporate structure.