PMESII and the Non-State Actor

<p>A systems perspective is beginning to permeate doctrine. This perspective calls for an analysis of the key systems of an adversary. PMESII is an acronym that stands for political military economic social infrastructure and information systems. Analyzing the adversary's PMESII systems can lead to the identification of key nodes links and vulnerabilities which can then be targeted kinetically or non-kinetically to achieve desired effects. The PMESII systems construct applies well when the adversary is a state. All of these systems will be present and mature with many of them possessing tangible infrastructure which can easily be identified by Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance and then targeted with precision weaponry. However when the adversary is non-state actor these same systems will be noticeably missing. Non-state actors are organized fundamentally different than states and manifest themselves in completely different ways. The utility of the PMESII construct is significantly diminished when the adversary is a non-state actor. To apply the systems perspective to non-state actors such as Al-Zarqawi the Al Qaeda leader in Iraq a different construct is required. The author maintains that identifying the critical requirements of non-state actors leads to a more relevant construct. The author using the nonstate actor Zarqawi identifies four systems that the typical non-state actor requires to remain viable. These systems are funding recruitment information and support or (FRIS). The FRIS construct provides the same level of utility for the non-state actor as PMESII does for states. The author recommends incorporating the FRIS construct as a corollary to the PMESII construct in the doctrinal manuals and publications that discuss the systems perspective.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p><br>