As the new administration rethinks its response to ISIS, it is critical to consider an overarching U.S. counterterrorism (CT) strategy. This paper provides an analysis of important factors to consider to develop a winning CT strategy that addresses U.S. interest and security.
Special Operation Forces (SOF) has had great success against al Qaeda. This success and continued demand for special operations have led to slightly increased personnel numbers and larger budgets. As demand for SOF increase, so does rates of deployment and concerns for SOF readiness. This paper addresses how the new administration should consider engaging with SOF in the future to ensure SOF is not overextended and remains effective.