Counterinsurgency, Lessons from the Homefront

Can the United States win against the insurgency in Iraq? Yes, according to Thomas Hammes. He claims the United States can be victorious against these fourth generation insurgency opponents. He states that "They can be beaten, but only by coherent, patient actions that encompass all agencies of the government and elements of the private sector. Their warfare encompasses the fields of diplomacy, defense,intelligence, law enforcement, and economic and social development."40 Our strategic goals need to be coordinated, focused, and networked in order to incorporate our interagency efforts against the Iraqi insurgency.Currently, the United States faces a dilemma in Iraq: a guarantee of continued counterinsurgency operations if it remains involved or devastating instability and world political failure if it leaves. The sooner the United States develops, implements, and executes a comprehensive counterinsurgency strategy, based on historical insurgency examples, current lessons learned, and proven law enforcement techniques, the better the chances to diminish the threat. America's counterinsurgency operations must be a coordinated and consolidated unified effort to include social support, economic opportunities, community involvement, and suppression of insurgency activity. To win the United States must provide economic aid, local security, and help establish an operational political system.