IP: Responses to Terrorism - The View from West Point -- read especially the last paragraph djf

[David Farber <dave@farber.net>]

From: "Fred Bothwell" <fredboth@texas.net
To: "David Farber" <dave@farber.net
Subject: Responses to Terrorism - The View from West Point
Date: Sun, 30 Sep 2001 11:22:35 -0500


Retired General Barry McCaffrey was President Clinton's "Drug Czar".
A 1964 graduate of West Point, he had a distinguished military career.
He is now the Olin Professor of National Security Studies at West Point.
His recent remarks concerning U.S. responses to terrorism were
forwarded to members of the West Point Association of Graduates.


Question from Cadet: Sir, I was hoping you could describe what you think
the United States should consider as an "endstate" on the matter of
dealing
with terrorists ... eradication, containment, or some other option? And
what would the United States consider the literal and figurative center of
gravity? Thanks for your time.

GEN McCaffrey's Answer: Great issue to consider...we have too liberally
borrowed from the language of science to deal with the imperfections of
political and security analysis. There will be no endstate ... we will ,if
successful, manage this chronic threat to our survival, economy, and
self-confidence by dramatically lowering the risk. We will build a series
of
defensive programs that will make a multiple order of magnitude increase
in
our day-to-day security. Second, we will form a coalition based on common
danger. Much of the globe will join us to leverage foreign intelligence
services and security forces to fight these FTO's forward in the battle
area. Finally, we will at last take the gloves off and use integrated
military power to find, fix, and destroy these organizations.

We are going to disrupt these people thru pre-emptive attack. We will
deceive them, we will run psyops on them,..... at selected points and
times
they will be killed suddenly, in significant numbers, and without warning.
Tomahawk missiles, 2000 lb laser guided weapons dropped from B2's or F22's
at very high altitude, remote control booby traps, blackmail, and at
places...small groups of soldiers or Seals will appear in total darkness
...blow down the doors and kill them at close range with automatic weapons
and hand grenades. We will find their money and freeze it. We will arrest
their front agents. We will operate against their recruiting and
transportation functions. We will locate their training areas and surveill
or mine them. We will isolate them from their families. We will try to
dominate their communication function and alternately listen, jam, or
spoof
it. We will make their couriers disappear. If we can find out how they
eat,
or play, or receive rewards, or where they sleep...we will go there and
kill
them by surprise.

The military component will be a supporting but lessor aspect of a
strategy
that will be based fundamentally on diplomatic and economic leverage to
compel cooperation with international law. Of prime importance, we must
reduce the environmental factors that feed this type of extremist
madness.....foreign aid must be dramatically increased to address the
misery
and poverty of the Palestinians, the Afghan's, the Sudanese and others.

We must also not be unwilling to confront the State sponsors of
terror..Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Cuba, North Korea....none can be allowed to
provide the base for another sickening strike against our civilian
population or our Allies. Conventional military power will be used at the
end of the day to place at risk those states who present a direct threat
to
our security. If deterrence does not work with coherent political and
economic measures in support of a threat capability...then their political
will must be shattered with overwhelming violence directed at their armed
forces and the political decision-makers.

The big challenge will be to organize America to protect our
transportation,
our economic activity, our entertainment ... etc with minimal invasion of
our privacy and our free movement. We will constrain domestic law
enforcement through the protection of our Judicial System. We will ensure
the unfettered operation of a free press. We will have to be zealous to
protect the Bill Of Rights and the dignity and safety of foreigners living
among us during this War. We can do all of this. We have no option. The
American people will depend on you and your fellow soldiers to step
forward
and stand between us and the barbarians.



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