U.s. Army Command and General Staff College

Military Ethics in Counterinsurgency: a New Look at an Old Problem (Defense) U.s. Army Command and General Staff College

Ethical perception is not the only part of legitimacy. Security is also a major factor. Insurgent forces typically target security in order to delegitimize the government by showing it as inept and incapable of protecting its people. The difficulty for the counterinsurgent lies in finding the proper balance satisfying ethical perception and providing security. With enough force and coercion, security can be maximized, yet in so doing the ethical perceptions of a society may not be sufficiently addressed. Without satisfying these perceptions to the appropriate level, a lasting peace cannot be attained. If the government is deligitimized in the view of the public, the insurgency gains strength and support. If the government is deligitimized through lack of security, the insurgent gains strength and support. Three main conclusions result from these observations: 1) Any success by the counterinsurgent in winning some form of lasting peace is not possible without addressing the ethical perceptions of the populace as they relate to legitimacy. 2) The factor of ethical perception alone is not sufficient for guaranteeing success in counterinsurgency. 3) Ethical perception alone is sufficient to guarantee failure.