SMA CENTCOM Reach-back Reports – Part 5: Sources of Extremism. Author | Editor: SMA Program Office. This is Part 5 of a 9 part series of SMA Reach back responses to questions posed by USCENTCOM. Each report contains responses to multiple questions grouped by theme. At the request of United States Central Command (USCENTCOM), the […]
Continue ReadingSMA CENTCOM Reach-back Reports – Part 6: ISIL Support and Recruitment. Author | Editor: SMA Program Office. This is Part 6 of a 9 part series of SMA Reach back responses to questions posed by USCENTCOM. Each report contains responses to multiple questions grouped by theme. At the request of United States Central Command (USCENTCOM), […]
Continue ReadingSMA CENTCOM Reach-back Reports – Part 2: The Fight Against ISIS. Author | Editor: SMA Program Office. This is Part 2 of a 9 part series of SMA Reach back responses to questions posed by USCENTCOM. Each report contains responses to multiple questions grouped by theme. At the request of United States Central Command (USCENTCOM), […]
Continue ReadingSMA CENTCOM Reach-back Reports – Part 1: Messaging. Author | Editor: SMA Program Office. This is Part 1 of a 9 part series of SMA Reach back responses to questions posed by USCENTCOM. Each report contains responses to multiple questions grouped by theme. At the request of United States Central Command (USCENTCOM), the Joint Staff, […]
Continue ReadingQuestion (R3 QL7): How does Da’esh’s transition to insurgency manifest itself in Syria; which other jihadist groups might offer the potential for merger and which areas of ungoverned space are most likely to offer conditions conducive for Da’esh to maintain some form of organizational structure and military effectiveness? Author | Editor: Polansky (Pagano), S. (NSI, […]
Continue ReadingViolent Non-state Actors in the Gray Zone A Virtual Think Tank Analysis (ViTTa). Author | Editor: Sarah Canna, Nicole (Peterson) Omundson, & George Popp (NSI, Inc.) Using the Virtual Think Tank (ViTTa) expert elicitation methodology, NSI asked six leading gray zone experts whether Violent Non-state Actors (VNSAs) belong in the definition of the gray zone. […]
Continue ReadingQuestion (LR3): What actions and polices can regional and coalition nations employ to reduce recruitment of ISIL inspired fighters? Author | Editor: Cragin, K. (National Defense University). This paper addresses the issue of ISIL recruitment from Literature Review Question #3. To do this, it utilizes a quick look format and focuses on two non-standard ideas […]
Continue ReadingQuestion (LR1): What opportunities are there for USCENTCOM to shape a post-ISIL Iraq and regional security environment promoting greater stability? Author | Editor: Astorino-Coutois, A. (NSI, Inc). The expert contributors to this paper agree on the relationship between regional security and stability in Iraq: A strong and stable Iraqi government is a fundamental component of […]
Continue ReadingQuestion (QL5): What are the predominant and secondary means by which both large (macro-globally outside the CJOA, such as European, North African and Arabian Peninsula) and more targeted (micro- such as ISIL-held Iraq) audiences receive ISIL propaganda? Author | Editor: Astorino-Coutois, A. (NSI, Inc). The contributors to this Quick Look demonstrate clearly the breadth and […]
Continue ReadingQuestion (QL3): What does primary source opinion research tell us about population support for ISIL in ISIL-held Iraq and globally outside the Combined Joint Operation Area (CJOA) (Syria and Iraq)? Author | Editor: Canna, S. (NSI, Inc). Opinion polls conducted by independent outfits in 2015 and 2016 derive the same result: the vast majority of […]
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