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Exploiting Seams and Closing Gaps: Lessons from Mumbai and Beyond

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dc.creator Dr. Andrea J. Dew
dc.date 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z
dc.identifier http://dx.doi.org/10.5038/1944-0472.5.4.2
dc.identifier 1944-0464
dc.identifier 1944-0472
dc.identifier https://doaj.org/article/1422a13307c342339a811c1e4a539d97
dc.description This article analyzes a single event—the 2008 Mumbai attacks—in order to consider the strategic and operational lessons for dealing with other armed groups. How and why was Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) able to carry out such a sophisticated attack in the heart of Mumbai? And what lessons does Mumbai hold for strategists seeking to counter other armed groups around the world? While tactical level lessons from Mumbai have been well documented, it is important to also consider what the Mumbai attacks tell us at the strategic and operational levels. Specifically, the Mumbai attacks provide valuable insight into how armed groups use the maritime environment, and how they use surprise, denial, and deception to mask intention and invite over-reaction by states. In addition, studying the Mumbai attacks provides insight into some of the strategic and operational seams and gaps that armed groups seek to exploit. These include environmental and geographical factors; institutional, bureaucratic, and jurisdictional seams and gaps between agencies; cognitive seams and gaps that made the use of the sea by LeT so difficult to conceptualize; and the diplomatic seams and gaps that led to heightened tensions among states— in this case, India, Pakistan, and the United States. This article discusses how to categorize these seams and gaps in order to better address the problems they create, and how states might best direct and focus their limited resources when faced with similar challenges.
dc.language English
dc.publisher Henley-Putnam University
dc.relation http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1194&context=jss
dc.relation https://doaj.org/toc/1944-0464
dc.relation https://doaj.org/toc/1944-0472
dc.source Journal of Strategic Security, Vol 5, Iss 4, Pp 19-34 (2012)
dc.subject Asymmetric warfare
dc.subject Irregular warfare
dc.subject Networks and network analysis
dc.subject Nonstate actors
dc.subject Pakistan
dc.subject Political violence
dc.subject Small wars and insurgencies
dc.subject Terrorism / counterterrorism
dc.subject Violent extremism
dc.subject Military Science
dc.subject U
dc.subject DOAJ:Military Science
dc.subject DOAJ:Technology and Engineering
dc.title Exploiting Seams and Closing Gaps: Lessons from Mumbai and Beyond
dc.type article


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