http://www.kropfpolisci.com/dvcpolsci250.htm (see Research project 2)

Question: In May of 2010, the former commander of all US Armed Forces in Afghanistan suggested that “the idea of counterinsurgency appears to be a viable way for success on paper…[but] counterinsurgency methods are not proving to be effective in practice.” He also noted that “[t]he human terrain layer of the battlefield is a necessary component of mission planning and success in a counterinsurgency environment.” Dividing the essay into two component parts, please answer the following questions: 1) Exactly what is counterinsurgency (COIN) doctrine and do you believe it can achieve a successful result in Afghanistan? And, 2) Is it ethical to recruit from the universities, social scientists and scholars for the US military’s “Human Terrain Systems” (HTS) project whose work will be used in the COIN process?

Sample Outline
I. Introduction / Thesis Statement – a brief statement outlining various definitions of counterinsurgency and human terrain and your position on the outlook for the success of COIN and the ethical implications of HTS.
II. Body – the bulk of the paper is here, in data taken from the readings and other evidence you have found in support of your position.
1. The US Army Counterinsurgency Field Manual – some of the highlights of the COIN manual, with particular emphasis on Chapter 3, “Intelligence in Counterinsurgency Operations.”
2. COIN DPE (supportive) – data taken from reports, papers, articles that generally support the COIN process and see potential for success.
3. COIN DPE (critical) – data taken from reports, papers, articles that generally are hostile to the COIN process and suggest these strategies will ultimately end in failure.
4. HTS DPE (critical) – data taken from reports, papers, articles, (supportive and critical) of the US Military’s HTS program.
5. The in-class documentary Human Terrain – DPE taken from this movie.
III. Conclusion – based on the evidence you have gathered, your opinion about the chances for success in Afghanistan using COIN strategies, and the ethical dilemmas of using scholars from the social sciences (including International Relations!) to assist in COIN.
Extras: 1. Again, make sure to include a citation every time you use a statement or an idea
from the readings that I have provided, or that you found in your own independent research.
THIS PAPER MUST BE DONE IN APA STYLE FORMAT. 2. “A” papers will be:
a. fully documented and cited b. a minimum of 13 pages (including title, abstract, and reference page) c. research beyond authors provided