DOCSLIB.ORG

Understanding Discursive Persuasion in American and Iraqi Call to Arms Discourse Discursive Strategies As Instruments of Persuasive Politics

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Understanding Discursive Persuasion in American and Iraqi Call to Arms Discourse Discursive Strategies As Instruments of Persuasive Politics Bangor University DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Understanding discursive persuasion in American and Iraqi call to arms discourse discursive strategies as instruments of persuasive politics Katea, Haider Award date: 2018 Awarding institution: Bangor University Link to publication General rights Copyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the public portal are retained by the authors and/or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. • Users may download and print one copy of any publication from the public portal for the purpose of private study or research. • You may not further distribute the material or use it for any profit-making activity or commercial gain • You may freely distribute the URL identifying the publication in the public portal ? Take down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim. Download date: 27. Sep. 2021 UNDERSTANDING DISCURSIVE PERSUASION IN AMERICAN AND IRAQI CALL TO ARMS DISCOURSE: DISCURSIVE STRATEGIES AS INSTRUMENTS OF PERSUASIVE POLITICS A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LINGUISTICS AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE IN FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY AT BANGOR UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES SCHOOL OF LINGUISTICS AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE By HAIDER HUSSEIN KATEA, BA, MA BANGOR, AUGUST 2018 Abstract: ‘Call to arms’ is the battlefield for the conflict for power and legitimacy between different ideologies, with language playing a vital role. Nowadays, the most recent examples are the speeches of various political figures on the War on Terror, due to the rising threat of terrorism worldwide. Analysing ‘call to arms’, the War on Terror, in different genres has received considerable academic interests in the last decade. However, most of these academic endeavours present themselves to understand the dynamics of such discursive constructs and strategies used either by western, American in particular or European discourse producers. It is against this backdrop that this thesis investigates the American and Iraqi ‘call to arms’ discourse instantiated in highly formalised institutional genre. The study presents a critical analysis of how persuasion has been produced and discursively realised in two different socio- political discourses. The study examines four specific speeches: two by American Presidents, namely, George W Bush and Barack Obama, and the remaining two were delivered by two Iraqi Prime Ministers, Nouri Al-Maliki and Haider Al-Abadi. The thesis incorporates some of the widely applied CDA (Critical Discourse Analysis) analytical categories used in the DHA (Discourse-Historical Approach), including referential, predicational, perspectivization, argumentative strategies (Topoi) and the strategies of intensification and mitigation (Resigil & Wodak, 2001), and legitimation studies from Van Leeuwen (2007) and Reyes (2011), along with some elements from the socio-semantic approach of van Leeuwen on the representation of social actors (van Leeuwen, 1996). The thesis emphasises specific linguistic ways in which language represents an instrument of control and a manifestation of symbolic power in discourse of war. It first develops an analytical approach that derives from Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and legitimisation studies to account for how ‘call to arms’ can be produced and discursively realised in situ. This particular work expands, and further proposes, some key discursive constructs and strategies of persuasion political figures employ in the discourse of going to war. The analysis of the data demonstrates that the American ‘call to arms’ rhetoric is not dissimilar to the Iraqi ‘call to arms’ rhetoric. I To the victims of terror all around the world II Acknowledgements I would like to acknowledge the support and generosity I received while carrying out this research. Simpliy, I would not have been able to carry out this research without the financial support from the Iraqi Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHESR), and the help of the Iraqi Cultural Attache in London. I highly appreciate their support and generosity. I would like to express my profound gratitude to my supervisor Dr Thora Tenbrink for her invaluable support, advice and guidance throughout the entire process. It has been an honour to be her PhD. student. Her insights and continual encouragement made this thesis more of a stimulating challenge than the demanding burden I often felt it would be. I also would like to thank Prof. Vian Bakir, who kindly took on my supervision and provided me with valuable feedback at key moments in the study. The completion of my doctoral degree is one milestone of a personal journey; a journey that has not been travelled alone. Therefore, it is my pleasure to acknowledge those who have supported and encouraged me through the different stages of this thesis. I owe my loving thanks to my wife (Inas) who overwhelmed me with her loving care, affection, and continue to support and encourage me in ways too numerous to count. Thanks to my mother who always spared time to pray for me and also my brothers for their continuous support. I also would like to thank my children (Hala, Abdullah and Mayar) who have always been an inexhaustible source of support. I also thank my friends (Drs Hazam, Atheer and Saher), who supported me with their positive feedbacks and comments. Lastly, I would like to thank everybody at the School of Linguistics and English Language for they always wished me good luck, especially Dr Anouschka Foltz and Dr Eirini Sanoudaki. Being part of this school was a great experience. Haider Hussein Katea Bangor University School of linguistics and English Language III Table of Contents Abstract: ................................................................................................................................................ I Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................................. III List of Tables ............................................................................................................................. XI CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................ 1 1.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2. Terrorism and the War on Terror .............................................................................................. 2 1.3. Guiding research interests, aims and research questions ................................................................ 4 1.4. Outline of the thesis ........................................................................................................................ 8 CHAPTER 2: LANGUAGE AND PERSUASION .................................................................. 11 2.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 11 2.2. Persuasion: scope and definitions ................................................................................................ 11 2.3. Persuasion, language and politics ................................................................................................. 14 2.4. Public speech: types and functions ............................................................................................... 15 2.5. Rhetoric: the art of persuasion ..................................................................................................... 18 2.6. Aristotle’s rhetoric theory ............................................................................................................ 18 2.6.1. Means of persuasion: types of appeals ................................................................................. 19 2.6.2. Parts of persuasive speech .................................................................................................... 23 2.6.3. Style of persuasive public speech ......................................................................................... 27 2.6.4. Delivery of public speech ..................................................................................................... 28 2.7. Persuasion and Democratic Societies ........................................................................................... 29 CHAPTER 3: CRITICAL FRAMEWORK OF DATA ANALYSIS ....................................... 33 3.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 33 3.2. CDA: historical development ....................................................................................................... 33 3.3. CDA: definitions, aims and principles ......................................................................................... 35 3.4. Theories of CDA .......................................................................................................................... 37 3.4.1. Socio-dialectic Theory ......................................................................................................... 37 3.4.2. Socio-Cognitive Theory ......................................................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Special Studies Series Foreign Nations
    This item is a finding aid to a ProQuest Research Collection in Microform. To learn more visit: www.proquest.com or call (800) 521-0600 This product is no longer affiliated or otherwise associated with any LexisNexis® company. Please contact ProQuest® with any questions or comments related to this product. About ProQuest: ProQuest connects people with vetted, reliable information. Key to serious research, the company has forged a 70-year reputation as a gateway to the world’s knowledge – from dissertations to governmental and cultural archives to news, in all its forms. Its role is essential to libraries and other organizations whose missions depend on the delivery of complete, trustworthy information. 789 E. Eisenhower Parkway ￭ P.O Box 1346 ￭ Ann Arbor, MI 48106-1346 ￭ USA ￭ Tel: 734.461.4700 ￭ Toll-free 800-521-0600 ￭ www.proquest.com A Guide to the Microfilm Edition of THE SPECIAL STUDIES SERIES FOREIGN NATIONS The Middle East War in Iraq 2003–2006 A UPA Collection from Cover: Neighborhood children follow U.S. army personnel conducting a patrol in Tikrit, Iraq, on December 27, 2006. Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Defense Visual Information Center (http://www.dodmedia.osd.mil/). The Special Studies Series Foreign Nations The Middle East War in Iraq 2003–2006 Guide by Jeffrey T. Coster A UPA Collection from 7500 Old Georgetown Road Bethesda, MD 20814-6126 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data The Middle East war in Iraq, 2003–2006 [microform] / project editors, Christian James and Daniel Lewis. microfilm reels ; 35 mm. – (Special studies series, foreign nations) Summary: Reproduces reports issued by U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • UN Assistance Mission for Iraq ﺑﻌﺜﺔ اﻷﻣﻢ اﻟﻤﺘﺤﺪة (UNAMI) ﻟﺘﻘﺪﻳﻢ اﻟﻤﺴﺎﻋﺪة
    ﺑﻌﺜﺔ اﻷﻣﻢ اﻟﻤﺘﺤﺪة UN Assistance Mission for Iraq ﻟﺘﻘﺪﻳﻢ اﻟﻤﺴﺎﻋﺪة ﻟﻠﻌﺮاق (UNAMI) Human Rights Report 1 September– 31 October 2006 Summary 1. Despite the Government’s strong commitment to address growing human rights violations and lay the ground for institutional reform, violence reached alarming levels in many parts of the country affecting, particularly, the right to life and personal integrity. 2. The Iraqi Government, MNF-I and the international community must increase efforts to reassert the authority of the State and ensure respect for the rule of law by dismantling the growing influence of armed militias, by combating corruption and organized crime and by maintaining discipline within the security and armed forces. In this respect, it is encouraging that the Government, especially the Ministry of Human Rights, is engaged in the development of a national system based on the respect of human rights and the rule of law and is ready to address issues related to transitional justice so as to achieve national reconciliation and dialogue. 3. The preparation of the International Compact for Iraq, an agreement between the Government and the international community to achieve peace, stability and development based on the rule of law and respect for human rights, is perhaps a most significant development in the period. The objective of the Compact is to facilitate reconstruction and development while upholding human rights, the rule of law, and overcoming the legacy of the recent and distant past. 4. UNAMI Human Rights Office (HRO) received information about a large number of indiscriminate and targeted killings. Unidentified bodies continued to appear daily in Baghdad and other cities.
    [Show full text]
  • Mikolaiczyk Saddam Hussein Engl Gesetzt
    The case against Saddam Hussein before the Iraqi High Tribunal (IHT) Akad. Rat Dr. Sascha Mikolajczyk , Wiss. Mitarbeiter Amir Makee Mosa , Kiel* “Ladies and gentlemen: We got him!” 1 With these words prosecuted and adjudicated individually one after the other. Paul Bremer, Chief Civilian Administrator in Iraq, opened a Taking of evidence in the Dujail trial ended on July 27, 2006; press conference on December 14, 2003, in which he an- the verdict was announced on November 5, 2006: Saddam nounced the capture of former Iraqi President Saddam Hus- Hussein and two other defendants 7 were sentenced to death sein by American troops. 2 by hanging, four received sentences of between 15 years to On October 19, 2005, the first trial for the prosecution of life. 8 On motion of the prosecutor, charges against one defen- crimes against humanity began against Saddam Hussein and dant were dismissed. 9 On December 26, 2006, the IHT appel- seven others 3 in the Iraqi High Tribunal (IHT) 4. The subject late branch denied the appeal filed in response to the verdict. of this so-called Dujail trial was the abduction and murder of The death sentence against Saddam Hussein was carried out 148 inhabitants of Dujail, a Shiite village located about 60 on December 30, 2006, and on January 15, 2007, against the km north of Baghdad, after a botched assassination attempt other two convicted persons. Further prosecution of other against Saddam Hussein there on July 8, 1982. The indict- defendants 10 is already underway on the next charge in the ment stated a total of thirteen charges 5 against Saddam Hus- indictment in the so-called Anfal trial 11 alleging the genocide sein and numerous other defendants.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 the Human Cost of US Interventions in Iraq
    The Human Cost of U.S. Interventions in Iraq: A History From the 1960s Through the Post-9/11 Wars Zainab Saleh1 October 13, 2020 The United States government has justified decades of intervention in Iraq in a variety of ways, the most recent of which is the current “war on terrorism.” All of these interventions have had devastating costs and consequences for Iraqis. Since the 1960s, the U.S. has treated Iraq as essential to its own economic and geopolitical interests; Iraqi arms purchases have bolstered the American military-industrial complex and stable access to Middle East oil has secured U.S. dominance in the global economy. As the U.S. has pursued these interests in Iraq, U.S. interventions have reshaped the Iraqi social, political, and cultural landscape. While the role the United States has played in Iraq since the 1960s is beginning to receive some scholarly attention, it remains widely unknown to the American public. Iraqis have lived in the shadow of U.S. interventions for decades, whereby the United States has attempted to control events and resources in the Gulf region. In 1958, the fall of the Iraqi monarchy brought an end to British influence in Iraq and the emergence of the United States as a major player in Iraqi affairs. In 1963, under the pretext of protecting the region from a communist threat, the Central Intelligence Agency backed the Ba‘th coup, an Arab nationalist party, after Iraq nationalized most of its oil fields. During the 1980s, the United States supported Saddam Hussein’s regime and prolonged the Iran-Iraq War in order to safeguard its national interests in the region, which entailed weakening Iran after the Islamic Revolution in 1979 to prevent it from posing a threat to U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Iraq: Democracy Or Civil War? Hearing
    IRAQ: DEMOCRACY OR CIVIL WAR? HEARING BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL SECURITY, EMERGING THREATS, AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT REFORM HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED NINTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION SEPTEMBER 15, 2006 Serial No. 109–250 Printed for the use of the Committee on Government Reform ( Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/congress/index.html http://www.house.gov/reform U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 39–536 PDF WASHINGTON : 2008 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512–1800; DC area (202) 512–1800 Fax: (202) 512–2104 Mail: Stop IDCC, Washington, DC 20402–0001 VerDate 11-MAY-2000 09:51 Jun 16, 2008 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 5011 Sfmt 5011 C:\DOCS\39536.TXT KATIE PsN: KATIE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT REFORM TOM DAVIS, Virginia, Chairman CHRISTOPHER SHAYS, Connecticut HENRY A. WAXMAN, California DAN BURTON, Indiana TOM LANTOS, California ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida MAJOR R. OWENS, New York JOHN M. MCHUGH, New York EDOLPHUS TOWNS, New York JOHN L. MICA, Florida PAUL E. KANJORSKI, Pennsylvania GIL GUTKNECHT, Minnesota CAROLYN B. MALONEY, New York MARK E. SOUDER, Indiana ELIJAH E. CUMMINGS, Maryland STEVEN C. LATOURETTE, Ohio DENNIS J. KUCINICH, Ohio TODD RUSSELL PLATTS, Pennsylvania DANNY K. DAVIS, Illinois CHRIS CANNON, Utah WM. LACY CLAY, Missouri JOHN J. DUNCAN, JR., Tennessee DIANE E. WATSON, California CANDICE S. MILLER, Michigan STEPHEN F. LYNCH, Massachusetts MICHAEL R. TURNER, Ohio CHRIS VAN HOLLEN, Maryland DARRELL E. ISSA, California LINDA T. SANCHEZ, California JON C.
    [Show full text]
  • Iraq: Millions in Flight: the Iraqi Refugee Crisis
    TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. A spiralling crisis ....................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Scale of the problem ............................................................................................ 3 1.2 Situation in Syria and Jordan ............................................................................... 5 1.2.1 Conditions in Syria ....................................................................................... 7 1.2.2 Conditions in Jordan ................................................................................... 17 2. State responses to the crisis ...................................................................................... 24 2.1 Funding and pledges .......................................................................................... 25 2.1.1 Assistance given .......................................................................................... 29 2.2 Resettlement ....................................................................................................... 31 2.3 Forcible returns .................................................................................................. 38 2.3.1 Forcible returns on criminal grounds .......................................................... 41 2.3.2 Forcible returns to northern Iraq ................................................................. 42 2.4 Failure to protect and limiting assistance ........................................................... 44 2.5 Withdrawal of
    [Show full text]
  • Switching Sides: Political Power, Alignment, and Alliances in Post-Saddam Iraq
    SWITCHING SIDES: POLITICAL POWER, ALIGNMENT, AND ALLIANCES IN POST-SADDAM IRAQ by Diane L. Maye A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of George Mason University in Partial Fulfillment of The Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Political Science Committee: _________________________________________ Mark N. Katz, Chair _________________________________________ Colin Dueck _________________________________________ T. Aric Thrall _________________________________________ Ming Wan, Program Director _________________________________________ Mark J. Rozell, Dean Date: ____________________________________ Fall Semester 2015 George Mason University Fairfax, VA Switching Sides: Political Power, Alignment, and Alliances in post-Saddam Iraq A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at George Mason University. by Diane L. Maye Master of Arts Naval Postgraduate School, 2006 Bachelor of Science United States Air Force Academy, 2001 Director: Mark N. Katz, Professor School of Policy, Government, and International Affairs Fall Semester 2015 George Mason University Fairfax, VA Copyright 2015 Diane L. Maye All Rights Reserved ii DEDICATION This is dedicated to my wonderful husband, without whose love and support this dissertation would have not been completed. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to acknowledge those who assisted me throughout my doctoral studies over the years. I would first like to acknowledge my chairman, Dr. Mark N. Katz, for agreeing to serve as my advisor and mentor during this process. Additionally, I would like to thank Dr. Colin Dueck, and Dr. T. Aric Thrall for serving as committee members. A very special thanks to my dear friend Sa’ad Ghaffoori for our countless meetings, emails, and conversations. I would also like to thank Governor Ahmed al Dulaymi, Thamir Hamdani, Waleed Mashhadani, Colonel Dale Kuehl, Colonel William Wyman, Colonel Richard Welch, Colonel Simon Gardner, as well as, Michael Pregent, Michael Sweeney, Paul D.
    [Show full text]
  • Strategic Reflections: Operation Iraqi Freedom July 2004-February 2007
    Strategic Reflections Casey Strategic Reflections Operation Iraqi Freedom July 2004–February 2007 George W. Casey, Jr. Strategic Reflections Strategic Reflections Operation Iraqi Freedom July 2004–February 2007 By George W. Casey, Jr. General, U.S. Army Retired National Defense University Press Washington, D.C. October 2012 Opinions, conclusions, and recommendations expressed or implied within are solely those of the contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of the Defense Department or any other agency of the Federal Government. Cleared for public release; distribution unlimited. Portions of this book may be quoted or reprinted without permission, provided that a standard source credit line is included. NDU Press would appreciate a courtesy copy of reprints or reviews. Cover image: U.S. Army Sergeant Nathaniel Patterson, of the 320th Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Mahmudiyah, Iraq (U.S. Army/Richard Del Vecchio). Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Casey, George W. Strategic reflections : Operation Iraqi Freedom, July 2004–February 2007 / by George W. Casey. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references. 1. Casey, George W. 2. Iraq War, 2003–2011—Campaigns. 3. Iraq War, 2003–2011—Decision making. 4. Iraq War, 2003–2011—Personal narratives. 5. Iraq—Politics and government—2003– 6. Generals—United States—Biography 7. Combined operations (Military science) 8. Civil-military relations—United States—History—21st century. 9. Civil-military relations—Iraq—History—21st century. 10. Iraq—Strategic aspects. I. Title. DS79.769.C38 2012 956.7044’34092—dc23 [B] 2012030244 First printing, October 2012 NDU Press publications are sold by the U.S. Government Printing Office.
    [Show full text]
  • Suicide Bombing Operations
    Issue No. 5 March 2007 Security & Terrorism Research Bulletin Suicide Bombing Operations During the last three years, the world has witnessed a notable upsurge in the number of suicide attacks, as well as in the geographical spread of this tactic. As the suicide bombers become more sophisticated and inventive in their tactics, the number of victims of suicide bombing attacks around the world has also increased significantly. Counter measures designed to combat suicide bombing have proven largely ineffective. This is now an acknow- ledged reality, and despite all national and international efforts, success in the field of preventive and preemptive measures has been limited. The research team at the Department of Security and Terrorism Studies at the GRC, which has produced this study, felt the need to analyze the suicide bombing phenomenon. As part of a Middle East-based think-tank, the researcher at the GRC is living and working within a regional environment that has become familiar with the terrible consequences of suicide operations. With this modest contribution, the researchers at the S&T department hope to add some knowledge that will help in understanding the suicide bombing phenomenon, and contribute to efforts of combating the same. Dr. Mustafa Alani Senior Advisor Director, Security and Terrorism Department Gulf Research Center w w w. g r c . a e TARGET THE GULF ������������������������������� �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� �������������������������� �������������������������������������
    [Show full text]
  • Positive Coping Mechanisms
    The Unity Circle Project Experiences of Iraqi Children and Parents Living in Amman, Jordan Participating Organizations The UNITY CIRCLE PROJECT: Experiences of Iraqi Children and Parents Living in Amman, Jordan Participating Organizations Contents International Institute for Child Rights our work takes us into the heart of communities, where we and Development (IICRD) help children and families help themselves. Save the Children established the Jordan country office in 1985 with a special Acknowledgments 1. The International Institute for Child Rights and Development focus on children and families. Since then, our programs have (IICRD), located at the Centre for Global Studies at the University contributed to both social and economic development, and have Executive summary 2. of Victoria, brings children’s rights to life as outlined in the positively impacted the lives of more than one million Jordanian UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in the context of women, children and youth. The recent influx of Iraqis into development using innovative research, education and capacity Jordan has added to the vulnerability of both Jordanian and 1. Introduction 8. building that draws on the strengths of children, their families, Iraqi children and families. Save the Children has been named communities and culture. We develop creative strategies to the Education Focal Point for Iraqis in Jordan by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and is the complex problems, shaping a world where children’s rights 2. From Global to Local - Linking the United Nations Convention on become a lived reality within the daily lives of children who Chair of the Psychosocial and Mental Health Coordinating Group.
    [Show full text]
  • Syria: from Non-Religious and Democratic Revolution to ISIS Fabrice Balanche
    Syria: From Non-Religious and Democratic Revolution to ISIS Fabrice Balanche To cite this version: Fabrice Balanche. Syria: From Non-Religious and Democratic Revolution to ISIS. Hérodote - Revue de géographie et de géopolitique, Elsevier Masson/La Découverte, 2016, pp.123-142. halshs-03177113 HAL Id: halshs-03177113 https://halshs.archives-ouvertes.fr/halshs-03177113 Submitted on 22 Mar 2021 HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. Hérodote 2016/1 (No 160-161) Syria: From Non-Religious and Democratic Revolution to ISIS By Fabrice Balanche[1] In 2011, there was general agreement that Bashar al-Assad would fall like a ripe fruit after a few months of fighting and that the Syrian revolution was peaceable, non- religious, and democratic. There was no risk of radicalization, for Syrian civil society would supposedly oppose any moves in such a direction. In July 2012, Bassma Kodmani, a member of the Syrian National Coalition, confirmed that her organization had a plan to prevent any drift toward communitarianism in Syria. Certainly, she conceded, there was a risk of this happening, but the Syrian National Coalition should be trusted to prevent it.
    [Show full text]
  • Counterinsurgency: Is “Air Control” the Answer?
    SMALL WARS JOURNAL smallwarsjournal.com Counterinsurgency: Is “Air Control” the Answer? Angelina M. Maguinness “Airpower is an unusually seductive form of military strength because, like modern courtship, it appears to offer the pleasures of gratification without the burdens of commitment.”1 Within the last few years, many airpower theorists advocated for the creation of a more air- centric approach to counterinsurgency (COIN) warfare. They point to modern airpower successes as the central component in military strategies, such as the successes in Bosnia in 1995, in Kosovo in 1998, and in the air policing operations conducted over Iraq from 1991 to 2003.2 Other airpower proponents decry the lack of “air-mindedness” and the short attention given to airpower in the 2007 United States (US) Army and Marine Corps Field Manual (FM) 3- 24 Counterinsurgency. They call for a truly joint COIN doctrine that recognizes and leverages airpower’s combat capabilities instead of relegating its use solely to support for ground forces.3 Many of these arguments are reminiscent of the early airpower zealots who believed airpower’s emerging technical capabilities promised less costs in money, lives, and resources with equal or better results than the use of large armies. Airpower, however, is not a cure-all in COIN, as demonstrated by Britain’s foray into colonial policing from 1919 to 1939. These lessons are applicable today, as military leaders continue to explore alternatives and supplements to existing American COIN strategy in Afghanistan and Iraq. While there is no doubt airpower plays a prominent role within COIN strategy, airpower’s most prudent use should not be as a primarily offensive weapon but as a component within a restrained combined arms approach.
    [Show full text]