text: Chapter 9
  may have the capability to shape the environment in areas of limited access. U.S. special operations forces
  (SOF) can conduct reconnaissance, information collection, and precision targeting. The United States
  Agency for International Development has the capability to introduce implementing partners who have
  access to initiate governance or development programs. The Department of State has the ability to
  influence the diplomatic process to generate initial governmental structures prior to the introduction of U.S.
  ground forces. Soldiers and Marines must recognize the potential that unified action partners have in
  shaping an operational environment prior to shape-clear-hold-build-transition framework operations.
  CLEAR
  9-17. Once counterinsurgents have effectively shaped the environment, including host-nation partners and
  enablers, and prepared all elements of the unified action partners appropriately, decided on where to focus
  the counterinsurgent effort, and has developed the plan to progress through to transition to host-nation
  responsibility, the force begins executing tasks associated with clear. Clear is as a tactical mission task that
  requires the commander to remove all enemy forces and eliminate organized resistance within an assigned
  area (FM 3-90-1). When used in this context, the term clear is considered the desired effect by U.S. ground
  forces: to eliminate the insurgency’s combatants to enable the host nation to develop the capability to
  address the insurgency’s root cause and eliminate the conditions that allow it to exist. While attempting to
  achieve the clear, the insurgency’s underground and auxiliary elements probably remain in the area of
  operations. While the counterinsurgent can target them along with the insurgency’s combatants, it is
  unlikely that the counterinsurgent will be successful in removing all of the underground or auxiliary
  elements.
  9-18. During the clear phase, counterinsurgents should be actively securing the population.
  Counterinsurgents must displace insurgents and enable basic governmental functions in their area.
  Moreover, the population must have the confidence that counterinsurgents will remain and insurgents will
  not control the area. During this period, the population may face intimidation, threats, and assassinations
  from insurgent forces. To gain legitimacy during this period, counterinsurgents must focus on securing the
  population.
  9-19. Operations and tasks associated with achieving the clear begin by controlling access to an area and
  then by controlling key points within that area. Security and influence can then spread out from this area.
  Commanders and staffs should consider the following points for operations in the clear:
  * Create a secure physical and psychological environment.
  * Provide continuous security for the local populace.
  * Eliminate the insurgent combatants.
  * Reinforce culturally appropriate political primacy within the context of host-nation systems.
  * Enforce the rule of law.
  9-20. Security tasks associated with the clear include—
  * Implement the provisions of a cease fire and control, capture, and disarm belligerents.
  * Provide territorial security until the host-nation national army can defend itself.
  * Protect the population—provide immediate law and order and humanitarian assistance.
  * Protect key individuals and sites—civilian government agencies, infrastructure, and institutions.
  9-21. During the clear, counterinsurgents must execute offensive, defensive, and stability tasks. Offensive
  operations are the priority for counterinsurgents. In most cases, the measure of effectiveness (MOE)
  associated directly with impacting the insurgency’s combatants (for example, isolate insurgents from the
  population) is the decisive operation. Offensive operations conducted during the clear include raid,
  deliberate attack, cordon and search, seize key terrain, and movement to contact. Counterinsurgents execute
  defensive operations as well, to include block access routes, establish and secure combat outposts, conduct
  sniper operations, and secure the population. To set the conditions to progress through the framework,
  counterinsurgents must execute stability tasks and operations at this point. Stability tasks include
  identifying potential government or security leaders, identifying civic capacity requirements from the
  population, establishing a local security force (in the context of host-nation systems) and beginning a
  training program (if necessary), and identifying the root causes for that area. Throughout these operations,