COIN AND OTHER ‘IRREGULAR ACTIVITIES’

• TELIC ‘Insights’ work recommended a

review of COIN

• DOC
 Operation TELIC Lessons Volume 2


'Failure to recognise the evolving operational
environment and a paucity of Cross-Government and
Joint doctrine meant that the Coalition only adopted a
COIN-informed campaign plan in Aug 04.'


‘Lesson. Joint doctrine should be developed,
integrating UK Army COIN doctrine, into a Joint
publication to: reflect the capabilities of all Services in
a NEC environment; highlight the advantages of an
effects-based approach to COIN and counter-
terrorism.’
 COIN REVIEW

• Essentially no change to the principles less

an emphasis on gaining the support of the
people (widest sense).

• But, changes to the subsequent explanation

to incorporate a Comprehensive Approach and
the idea of Campaign Authority as a way to gain
support for the operation and isolate the
insurgent.
 However, experience…….


Insurgency?

Terrorist attack?

Criminal activity?

Public Disorder?

Reality is complex
 COUNTERING IRREGULAR ACTIVITY
• Takes recent experience, policy, historical
analysis and academic thinking.
• Considers the context, the Contemporary
Operating Environment: global, regional and
local threats from irregular actors. How such
activities can be categorised. Importance of
protecting the people.
• Military roles: home, overseas including
intervention. Both leading and supporting.
• Response to Insurgency, Terrorism, Disorder
and Criminality. Considering how they relate to
each other.
• Articulate as high level guidance.
 Towards a Decidedly Irregular Future

Global Inequality and Imbalance - a global insurgency?

‘Global Justice Movement’

Grievance and Inequality

Populism and anti-capitalism

The culture of dissent

Weak states and uncertain safeguards

Criminalised States

Narco-states

Nihilists and anarchists

Boredom/ennui
 Post-modern Irregular Features

Localised and Globalised

Porous Borders/Ungoverned space

Diasporae

Exploitation of weaknesses and anomalies in the International system

Abandonment of moral and legal constraints

Reach, Resources and access to military capabilities

Proxy activity

‘White Companies’

Network-enabled

Use of media and Cyberspace

Groups ‘morph’ through Disorder, Insurgency, Criminality and Terrorism