NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL

1 NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA THESIS Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited CONFLICT WITHOUT CASUALTIES: NON-LETHAL WEAPONS IN IRREGULAR WARFARE by Richard L. Scott September 2007 Thesis Advisor: Robert McNab Second Reader: Sophal Ear THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK iREPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE Form Approved OMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instruction, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202-4302, and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (0704-0188) Washington DC 20503.

2 1. AGENCY USE ONLY (Leave blank) 2. REPORT DATE September 2007 3. REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED Master s Thesis 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE Conflict Without Casualties: Non-Lethal Weapons in Irregular Warfare 6. AUTHOR(S) Richard L. Scott 5. FUNDING NUMBERS 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL Monterey, CA 93943-5000 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NUMBER 9. SPONSORING /MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) N/A 10. SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY REPORT NUMBER 11. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES The views expressed in this thesis are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of Defense or the Government. 12a. DISTRIBUTION / AVAILABILITY STATEMENT Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited 12b. DISTRIBUTION CODE 13.

3 ABSTRACT (maximum 200 words) In this thesis I show that the casualties associated with warfare can be largely avoided. This includes combatant casualties, as well as noncombatant and friendly forces. The military is frequently tasked with deploying into foreign countries and performing duties that range from conventional combat operations to humanitarian relief and training host nationals. The politics of every deployment are complicated and invariably there will be some resistance, both domestically and internationally. People may feel victimized or marginalized and may demonstrate with protests, both peaceful and violent. How, then, may the use of non-lethal force be best applied in hostile situations in lieu of the shout or shoot approach commonly associated with military operations?

4 Scientific advances in non-lethal technology may serve to curb violence while still allowing Soldiers and Marines to accomplish their missions. 15. NUMBER OF PAGES 93 14. SUBJECT TERMS Non-Lethal Weapons, NLW, Less Lethal, Irregular Warfare, Unconventional, Asymmetric, Guerilla Warfare, Counterinsurgency, COIN, Military Operations in Urban Terrain, MOUT, Low Intensity Conflict, Stabilization and Reconstruction, Stability Operations, Support Operations, SOSO, Security Operations. 16. PRICE CODE 17. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF REPORT Unclassified 18. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF THIS PAGE Unclassified 19. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF ABSTRACT Unclassified 20. LIMITATION OF ABSTRACT UU NSN 7540-01-280-5500 Standard Form 298 (Rev. 2-89) Prescribed by ANSI Std. 239-18 iiTHIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK iiiApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited CONFLICT WITHOUT CASUALTIES: NON-LETHAL WEAPONS IN IRREGULAR WARFARE Richard L.

5 Scott Captain, United States Army , University of Washington, Tacoma, 2001 Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS IN SECURITY STUDIES (STABILIZATION AND RECONSTRUCTION) from the NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL September 2007 Author: Richard L. Scott Approved by: Robert McNab Thesis Advisor Sophal Ear Second Reader Douglas Porch Chairman, Department of National Security Affairs ivTHIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK vABSTRACT In this thesis I show that the casualties associated with warfare can be largely avoided. This includes combatant casualties, as well as noncombatant and friendly forces. The military is frequently tasked with deploying into foreign countries and performing duties that range from conventional combat operations to humanitarian relief and training host nationals.

6 The politics of every deployment are complicated and invariably there will be some resistance, both domestically and internationally. People may feel victimized or marginalized and may demonstrate with protests, both peaceful and violent. How, then, may the use of non-lethal force be best applied in hostile situations in lieu of the shout or shoot approach commonly associated with military operations? Scientific advances in non-lethal technology may serve to curb violence while still allowing Soldiers and Marines to accomplish their missions. viTHIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK viiTABLE OF CONTENTS I. A. MOTIVATION ..1 B. THESIS ..3 C. HISTORICAL CONTEXT ..5 D. CURRENT REQUIREMENTS AND E. STRUCTURE OF THESIS ..9 II.

7 LITERATURE REVIEW ..11 A. 1. Strategic Policies ..12 2. Tactical 3. Commercial Publications ..18 B. COIN PRINCIPLES AND IMPERATIVES ..21 C. LETHAL FORCE IN IRREGULAR WARFARE ..24 D. NON-LETHAL WEAPONS AND IRREGULAR E. CONCLUSIONS ..29 III. CASE A. B. CHECKPOINT C. URBAN RIOTS ..34 D. CROWD E. CONCLUSIONS ..38 IV. NLWS AND STABILITY OPERATIONS ..41 A. B. 1. Strategic Risks ..43 2. Operational 3. Tactical Risks ..45 C. 1. Strategic Benefits ..46 2. Operational Benefits ..47 3. Tactical Benefits ..48 D. COSTS ..49 E. CONCLUSIONS ..51 V. CONCLUSIONS AND A. CONCLUSIONS ..53 B. 1. Strategic 2. Operational Recommendations ..56 3. Tactical Recommendations ..57 APPENDIX A: FORCE CONTINUUM ..59 viiiAPPENDIX B: CURRENT AND DEVELOPMENTAL NLW TECHNOLOGIES.

8 61 APPENDIX C: APPLICABLE TREATIES AND LAWS ..65 LIST OF REFERENCES ..67 INITIAL DISTRIBUTION LIST ..77 ixLIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS 4GW Fourth Generation of Warfare AAR After Action Review ACF Anti-coalition Forces ADS Active Denial System AO Area of Operations AOR Area of Responsibility BOSUN Bibliographic Online System Utilis Nautis CALL Center for Army Lessons Learned COE Contemporary Operating Environment COIN Counterinsurgency CWC Chemical Weapons

9 Convention DA Department of the Army DoD Department of Defense DoS Department of State DTIC Defense Technical Information Center EMP Electromagnetic Pulse FAFC Force Application Functional Concept FBI Federal Bureau of Investigation FM Field Manual GWOT Global War on Terror HN Host National HRT Hostage Rescue Team HRW Human Rights Watch IAW In accordance with ICRC International Committee of the Red Cross IED Improvised Explosive Device INIWIC Inter-Service NLW Instructor Course IW Irregular Warfare JNLWD Joint Non-lethal Weapons Directorate JNLWP Joint Non-lethal Weapons Program xJOA Joint Operations Area JP Joint Publication JSTOR Journal

10 Storage LOAC Law of Armed Conflict MARFORPAC Marine Forces, Pacific MCO Major Combat Operations MOA Memorandum of Agreement MOUT Military Operations in Urban Terrain MTT Mobile Training Team NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization NDS National Defense Strategy NLCS Non-lethal Capability Set NLW Non-lethal Weapon NLW/C Non-lethal Weapons and Capabilities NMS National Military Strategy