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E-book
Author Jones, Seth G., 1972- author.

Title Counterterrorism and counterinsurgency in Somalia : assessing the campaign against Al Shabaab / Seth G. Jones, Andrew Liepman, Nathan Chandler
Published Santa Monica, CA : RAND, [2016]
©2016

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Description 1 online resource (xv, 80 pages) : color maps, color chart
Series Research report ; RR-1539-OSD
Research report (Rand Corporation) ; RR-1539-OSD.
Contents Preface -- Box, Figures, and Tables -- Summary -- Acknowledgments -- Abbreviations -- Chapter 1. Introduction: Research Design -- Outline of the Report -- Chapter 2. The Evolution of al Shabaab: Phase One: Ideological and Historical Origins, 1960s-2005 -- Phase Two: Proto-Insurgency, 2005-2007 -- Phase Three: Rebirth and the Rise of the Islamists, 2007-2009 -- Phase Four: The Heyday of al Shabaab, 2009-2011 -- Phase Five: Retreat and Adaptation, 2011-2016 -- Conclusion -- Chapter 3. The Weakening of al Shabaab: Strategic Options -- The Decline of al Shabaab -- Conclusion -- Chapter 4. Recommendations -- APPENDIX: Data Collection Sources and Notes -- About the Authors -- References -- Index
Summary "This report analyzes the U.S. and allied campaign against the al Qa'ida-linked terrorist group al Shabaab in Somalia, examines what steps have been most successful against the group, and identifies potential recommendations. It concludes that, while al Shabaab was weakened between 2011 and 2016, the group could resurge if urgent steps are not taken to address the political, economic, and governance challenges at the heart of the conflict. This study finds that a tailored engagement strategy -- which involved deploying a small number of U.S. special operations forces to conduct targeted strikes, provide intelligence, and build the capacity of local partner forces to conduct ground operations--was key in degrading al Shabaab. Still, progress in Somalia is reversible in the absence of continued and consistent pressure and political, economic, and social reforms. Today's terrorism and insurgency landscape defies easy solutions, with challenges from the Islamic State, al Qa'ida, and other groups across the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and Africa. While there has been a significant focus on how and why the U.S. and other Western governments have failed to degrade terrorists and insurgents in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Libya, and other countries, there has been far less attention on successful efforts to degrade groups. In Somalia, there has been limited progress. The challenge will be preventing a reversal"--Publisher's description
Notes "September 13, 2016"--Table of contents page
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references (pages 71-80) and index
Notes Online resource; title from PDF title page (EBSCO, viewed March 28, 2017)
Subject Shabaab (Organization)
SUBJECT Shabaab (Organization) fast
Subject Terrorism -- Somalia -- Prevention -- 21st century -- Evaluation
Counterinsurgency -- Somalia -- 21st century -- Evaluation
Insurgency -- Somalia -- 21st century
Islamic fundamentalism -- Somalia -- 21st century
Religious militants -- Somalia -- 21st century
POLITICAL SCIENCE -- General.
Insurgency
Islamic fundamentalism
Religious militants
Somalia
Form Electronic book
Author National Defense Research Institute (U.S.), publisher, issuing body.
ISBN 9780833094865
0833094866
Other Titles Assessing the Campaign Against Al Shabaab