ISIL’S Battlefield Tactics and the Implications for Homeland Security and Preparedness

Ryan Bauer,Joshua Tallis,Lauren Frey

doi:10.15664/jtr.1391

Abstract

This proposed article investigates the emergency management implications of a terrorist attack directly planned and executed by ISIL in the United States. To do so, we operationalize the Department of Homeland Security’s National Preparedness Goal (NPG) to demonstrate how ISIL-directed attacks might stress national preparedness Core Capabilities. In so doing, we provide a proof of concept, demonstrating how viewing the ISIL threat through an emergency preparedness lens can help better benchmark existing national preparedness activities and policies against emerging threats.

Highlights

Of the numerous tactics that ISIL has cultivated on the battlefields of Iraq and Syria, could any present threats in an American domestic context? Relatedly, once we understand what types of threats ISIL could employ in an attack against the United States,a how can we discuss them in a manner that proves meaningful for policymakers at all levels of government?
Answering the first question requires, at the outset, an understanding of the tactics ISIL has employed on the battlefield
We considered the process by which tactics might be transferred from the battlefield to the United States, paying particular attention in our selection process to the knowledge component of ISIL’s tactics

Summary

Introduction

Of the numerous tactics that ISIL has cultivated on the battlefields of Iraq and Syria, could any present threats in an American domestic context? Relatedly, once we understand what types of threats ISIL could employ in an attack against the United States,a how can we discuss them in a manner that proves meaningful for policymakers at all levels of government?Answering the first question requires, at the outset, an understanding of the tactics ISIL has employed on the battlefield. By mapping ISIL’s tactics to Core Capabilities, we can provide a means for practitioners to reflect on whether their jurisdiction’s level of proficiency or spending in a given capability is sufficient to meet the threat.

Results

Conclusion