Transcript Lesson 9- USCENTCOM

USCENTCOM
Area of Responsibility
Overview
• US National Security
Concerns
• Regional Cultural
Perspectives
• The Combatant
Command
US National Security Concerns
• Geography
• Terrorism
• Regional
Stability
• Iran’s Nuclear
Ambitions
US National Security Concerns
Geography
• AOR: 20 Countries
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Afghanistan
Bahrain
Egypt
Iran
Iraq
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Lebanon
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Oman
Pakistan
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Syria
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan
United Arab Emirates
Uzbekistan
Yemen
• US military and diplomatic challenges are
compounded by the geography of this vast
and diverse region
US National Security Concerns
Terrorism
• Post 9/11 Focus: Eliminating terrorist
hideouts, bases of operation, and support
– Non-state Actors (Al Qaeda in Afghanistan)
– State-sponsored (Iranian Threat Network)
• Al Qaeda and its Affiliates and Adherents
(AQAA) pose the most significant threat
– Al Qaeda core is less capable today
– However, jihadist movement has spread to more
locations and is more difficult to track
US National Security Concerns
Regional Stability
• Afghanistan
– Military strength has improved (352K authorized)
– However, civilian casualties are rising
– Concerns over political transition & corruption
• Iraq
– Shia-led government’s lack of meaningful reform
and inclusion of other groups (Sunnis, Kurds)
• Syria
– Influx of foreign fighters, compliance with
chemical weapons removal and destruction
US National Security Concerns
Iran’s Nuclear Ambitions
• Nuclear Threat to:
– US bases in the region
– Israel and other allies
– US homeland
• Recently specific and verifiable actions were
taken to halt progress on nuclear program
• However … unease with counter-maritime,
theater ballistic missile and cyber capabilities
Regional Cultural Perspectives
• History and Myth
• Religion and Spirituality
College Students in Syria
• Family and Kinship
• Politics and Social Relations
Young Woman in Yemen
Regional Cultural Perspectives
History and Myth
• The Crusades (1096 CE to 1270 CE)
– Westerners: Ancient History
– Middle Easterners: Subjugation,
conversion, murder condoned by the
Pope still relevant today
• Soviet Conquest (1922-1991)
– Settled lands with outsiders; pushed
nomadic native populations to outskirts
– Alienation of local population led to
resentment, riots, and eventual fall of
the Soviet Union
Regional Cultural Perspectives
History and Myth
• Formation of Israel (1948)
– Follow-on invasion of Israel by Arab states
– Major Conflicts in 1956, 1967, 1969-1970, 1973, 1982
– Continued strife today, in spite of cease fire agreements
• Failure of Arab Nationalism (1960s, 1970s)
– Created progressive and fundamental Islamic movements
– Political Islam seen as a threat to conservative regimes and
thus more fundamentalist groups came into existence
• Iranian Islamic Revolution (1979)
– Initiated era of state-sponsored terrorism
Regional Cultural Perspectives
History and Myth
• Iraq’s Invasion of Kuwait (1990)
– Coalition against Hussein included
several Arab nations
– However, US response was seen as an
attack by the infidels
• War on Terrorism (post Gulf War)
– Operation DESERT FOCUS
– Operation ENDURING FREEDOM
– Operation IRAQI FREEDOM
Regional Cultural Perspectives
Religion and Spirituality
• Home to three of the world’s major religions
– Judaism
– Christianity
– Islam
• Meaning of the City of Jerusalem
– Jews: Foundation of their faith and
location of temples
– Christians: Crucifixion and ascension
– Muslims: Third holiest city,
Mohammed’s ascension
Regional Cultural Perspectives
Religion and Spirituality
• Dominance of Islam
– All nations within USCENTCOM have a clear Muslim
majority, all but five have a 90% Muslim population
• Five Pillars of Islam
–
–
–
–
–
Profession of Faith
Prayer
Alms
Fasting
Pilgrimage to Mecca
Regional Cultural Perspectives
Religion and Spirituality
• Sectarian Divide
– Sunnis
• 85-90% of Muslims
• Abu Bakr succeeded Mohammed
• Current imams are merely human
– Shi’as
• 10-15% of Muslims
• Ali ibn Abi Talib should have succeeded Mohammed
• Current imams are infallible manifestations of God
– Sectarian divide and violence persists and is growing
Regional Cultural Perspectives
Family and Kinship
• Man’s first loyalty = extended family
– Then his tribe, ethnic group, and finally his nation
• Children
– Sons encouraged to be dominant
• Motherhood Reverence
– Eagerness for children, especially sons
• Male Authority
– Inheritance occurs through the male line
• Elders
– Treated with tremendous respect, influence family decisions
Regional Cultural Perspectives
Politics and Social Relations
• Fallacy to assume all USCENTCOM
nations are authoritarian or anti-Western
• Majority are republican or democratic
• Arab Awakening
– Flight from repression
– Breakdown of the social contract between
governments and their people
– Uncertain future
– Popular calls for more responsive government
The Combatant Command
• Evolution of
USCENTCOM
• Mission Priorities
• Supporting
Organizations
The Combatant Command
Evolution of USCENTCOM
• 1980: Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force
• 1983: USCENTCOM established
• 2008: USAFRICOM established
Current Mission: With national and international partners,
USCENTCOM promotes cooperation among nations, responds
to crises, and deters or defeats state and non-state aggression,
and supports development and, when necessary, reconstruction
in order to establish the conditions for regional security,
stability, and prosperity.
The Combatant Command
Mission Priorities
• Counter Threats
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Provide Continuity for Afghanistan
Halt Counter-proliferation of WMD
Control Iran
Curb Sectarianism
Counter Terrorists
• Work with partners to ensure freedom of
access, provide security, leverage military-tomilitary capabilities, share information, and
improve flexibility and crisis response
The Combatant Command
Mission Priorities
• Building Partnerships
– 49 nations, over 32,000 troops have
deployed to the USCENTCOM AOR
– Provide:
• Vital intelligence
• Personnel, equipment, and assets
• Liaison teams
• Planning functions
• Over-flight permissions
• Humanitarian assistance
The Combatant Command
Supporting Organizations
• Components:
– Shaw AFB, SC: USARCENT and USAFCENT
– MacDill AFB, FL: USMARCENT and USSOCCENT
– Bahrain: USNAVCENT
• National Guard State Support Program
People Groups
People Groups
People Groups
People Groups
Religious Influence
Religious Influence
Religious Influence
Religious Influence
Terrorism Influence
Terrorism Influence
Summary
• US National Security
Concerns
• Regional Cultural
Perspectives
• The Combatant
Command