Exploiting Seams and Closing Gaps: Lessons from Mumbai and Beyond

Journal of Strategic Security

Dew, Andrea¹ 

[1] US Naval War CollegeUS Naval War CollegeUS Naval War College

关键词: Asymmetric warfare;    Irregular warfare;    Networks and network analysis;    Nonstate actors;    Pakistan;    Political violence;    Small wars and insurgencies;    Terrorism / counterterrorism;    Violent extremism;   

DOI  :  10.5038/1944-0472.5.4.2

学科分类：建筑学

来源: Henley-Putnam University Press

【 摘 要 】

This article analyzes a single eventthe 2008 Mumbai attacksin order to consider the strategic and operational lessons for dealing with other armed groups. How and why was Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) able to carry out such a sophisticated attack in the heart of Mumbai? And what lessons does Mumbai hold for strategists seeking to counter other armed groups around the world? While tactical level lessons from Mumbai have been well documented, it is important to also consider what the Mumbai attacks tell us at the strategic and operational levels. Specifically, the Mumbai attacks provide valuable insight into how armed groups use the maritime environment, and how they use surprise, denial, and deception to mask intention and invite over-reaction by states. In addition, studying the Mumbai attacks provides insight into some of the strategic and operational seams and gaps that armed groups seek to exploit. These include environmental and geographical factors; institutional, bureaucratic, and jurisdictional seams and gaps between agencies; cognitive seams and gaps that made the use of the sea by LeT so difficult to conceptualize; and the diplomatic seams and gaps that led to heightened tensions among states in this case, India, Pakistan, and the United States. This article discusses how to categorize these seams and gaps in order to better address the problems they create, and how states might best direct and focus their limited resources when faced with similar challenges.

【 授权许可】

Unknown