The Revenge of the Melians: Asymmetric Threats and the Next QDR

CONTENTS Foreword Introduction What is Asymmetric Warfare? Defining Asymmetry -- Characteristics: Disparity of Interest -- Targeting the Will of the Opponent -- Attaining Strategic Effect on All Levels of War -- The Importance of Effectiveness -- The Threat-Response Dynamic -- A Final Example: The Gulf Tanker War -- Conclusions A Typology of Asymmetry: What, Who, and When? The What: The Range of Potential Asymmetric Threats -- The Who: Regional, Rogue, and Nonstate Actors -- The When: Likelihood During Phases of a Crisis --Conclusions Looking in the Mirror: Where Are Our Asymmetric Vulnerabilities? Measuring Conventional Military Superiority --Examining the Homeland --Quantifying the Homeland: What Are the Targets? --Examining Potential Vulnerabilities Categorizing the Threats What Are the Ten Asymmetric Threats? --Conclusions An Option of Difficulties --Countering Asymmetric Threats Current Initiatives: The State of Play Today -- Summarizing Current Initiatives -- Doing Better: Beginning with Three Ideas -- Policy Recommendations -- An Option of Difficulties? Conclusions: The Uneasy Athenians Endnotes