| ID | 079235 |
| Title Proper | Waging the inchoate war |
| Other Title Information | defining, fighting, and second-guessing the 'Long War' |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Douglas, Frank Scott |
| Publication | 2007. |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | This article answers three questions: What is the nature of the Long War? How is progress (or lack thereof) to be assessed? Where is it likely to go next? An appreciation of Clausewitz shows that practical centers of gravity exist for the Long War, and that the conflict pivots upon the ability to persuasively link ideology to events via a strategic narrative. A close examination of an illustrative case study, the interaction between the US and the late Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in Iraq 2004 - 2006, shows that Al Qaeda has suffered a severe setback, but also that the nature of the war is set to shift yet again. Further tangible progress for the US requires waging the Long War as a global counterinsurgency based on a strategy of 'selective identification' (versus pure 'disaggregation') as well as an understanding of how to more effectively craft a strategic narrative. |
| `In' analytical Note | Journal of Strategic Studies Vol. 30, No.3; Jun 2007: p391-420 |
| Journal Source | Journal of Strategic Studies Vol. 30, No.3; Jun 2007: p391-420 |
| Key Words | Al Qaeda ; Zarqawi ; Strategic Narrative ; Center of Gravity |