ABSTRACT
According to experts the major conventional wars of America’s past are likely not the wars of America’s future. Instead of engaging in major conventional wars, the U.S. may well find itself engaged in asymmetric wars, such as the recent insurgencies in Iraq and Afghanistan. Defeating an insurgency requires more than overwhelming military superiority. The U.S. Military’s counterinsurgency (COIN) manual, for example, suggests that defeating an insurgency requires something of a holistic approach to warfare that includes military, civic, economic, and psychological action with an ultimate goal of winning the political support of the local populace. While each of these COIN elements is important, this paper will focus on one critical element of the psychological component of COIN. Specifically, the COIN manual states that the development of trust between coalition forces and the local populace is essential. Benefits of improved trust between forces and the populace include fewer cultural misunderstandings (which can lead to unnecessary violence) and increased intelligence flow.
