How To Win Covert Wars: It’s Time To Reconsider Covert Action As An Instrument Of American Statecraft

Excerpt:

But covert action should be understood in a broader sense of statecraft. It is the support or operations to influence global situations to the advantage of American national interests that require the hiding of the American role to minimize risks and investments, while maximizing the chances for success.

I really do not care what we call it; covert action, political warfare, unconventional warfare, unconventional action, unconventional statecraft we need the capability that George Kennan outlined in 1948.

We should re-read Kennan’s 1948 memo: http://ift.tt/16PM4zY. edu/history/johnson/ 65ciafounding3.htm

But it cannot be solely covert. Overt and covert action, statecraft, psychological operations and public diplomacy all must be synchronized in support of strategy and policy.

How to Win Covert Wars

http://ift.tt/Im6e4E feature/how-win-covert-wars- 12208?page=show

Image: DOD Photo

The world’s a complex place. It’s time to reconsider covert action as an instrument of American statecraft.

Richard L. Russell

February 9, 2015

In light of…