The effectiveness of drone strikes in counterinsurgency and counterterrorism campaigns
By: James Igoe Walsh
Contributors: Army War College (U.S.). Strategic Studies Institute; Army War College (U.S.). Press
Publisher: Strategic Studies Institute and U.S. Army War College Press
Published: 2013
Place of publication: Carlisle, PA
Language: eng
Number of pages: 61
ISBN-13: 9781584875857
Subjects: Drone aircraft; Counterinsurgency; Terrorism; Prevention; Military policy; Foreign relations
Description: The United States increasingly relies on unmanned aerial vehicles to target insurgent and terrorist groups around the world. This monograph analyzes the available research and evidence that assesses the political and military consequences of drone strikes. It is not clear if drone strikes have degraded their targets, or that they kill enough civilians to create sizable public backlashes against the United States. Drones are a politically and militarily attractive way to counter insurgents and terrorists, but, paradoxically, this may lead to their use in situations where they are less likely to be effective and where they are difficult to predict consequences.
Notes: "September 2013."

Includes bibliographical references (pages 54-61).

Also available online in PDF format from Strategic Studies Institute (SSI) web site.
Table of contents: title: Introduction; title: Why drones are different; title: Drones and deterrence : three perspectives. Drones as selective violence; title: Drone strikes and the resilience of insurgent organizations; title: Drone strikes as indiscriminate violence; title: Drones and counterinsurgency : what does the evidence tell us? Challenges in measuring drone strikes and insurgent activity; title: Effects of drone strikes on insurgent activity; title: Policy and strategy implications.