text: Chapter 4
  can serve as a rallying call for all members of the population to join a struggle. Commanders and staffs
  answer several questions when analyzing insurgent ideology:
  * What is the problem the insurgents will fix, and how will they fix it?
  * Are there any ideological divisions within the insurgency or the population?
  * Is the ideology supported by outside groups?
  * What propaganda are the insurgents using to propagate their ideology?
  Third Dynamic—Objectives
  4-56. Insurgencies can have strategic, operational, and tactical objectives. Tactical objectives most directly
  translate to actions. For example, a tactical goal of destroying a logistics convoy directly translates into an
  attack against a logistics convoy. However, these actions are normally performed to achieve an operational
  objective. In the example of the attack on the convoy, the operational objective might be to prevent logistic
  support of host-nation forces. When insurgents achieve various operational goals, they can achieve the
  strategic end state of their insurgency.
  4-57. A strategic objective is the movement’s overall political goal or desired end state. An insurgency will
  seek to—
  * Force significant political, economic, or religious change.
  * Overthrow the existing social order and reallocate power.
  * Generate resistance to outside occupiers or change within a society.
  * Nullify government control in an area.
  * Cause a region to secede.
  4-58. An insurgency’s strategic objectives will influence the type of insurgency that develops, and its
  ideology will influence an insurgency’s end state. For example, an insurgency focused on resistance against
  outside occupiers or change in a society may unify many different groups based on that shared end state.
  The strategic end state of the insurgency may be as simple as resistance to occupation or a conservative
  insurgency’s general resistance to change in a society. Groups that seek to nullify government control may
  have an objective of protecting criminal activities and black markets. These groups may be non-ideological,
  but they will still need to mobilize the population to nullify governmental control. On the other hand,
  groups that wish to force significant change in a society or overthrow an existing social order are likely to
  be ideologically driven. There is a connection between an insurgency’s strategic goal and an insurgency’s
  ideology.
  Fourth Dynamic—Environment and Geography
  4-59. The environment and geography affect insurgent actions. Insurgencies may form their base in urban
  environments, rural environments, or in a combination of both. Insurgents located in rural areas can enjoy
  the relative safety of remote terrain or safe heavens, such as jungles or mountains. These geographical
  conditions make it possible for them to form larger units and conduct larger-scale operations. However,
  there are some disadvantages to a rural based insurgency. Communications and supply lines are longer and
  slower. Insurgents can be isolated from the population, and an insurgency can be destroyed with a decisive
  military operation.
  4-60. Urban insurgencies tend to operate within ethnic ghettos or enclaves of sympathetic supporters.
  Operating in urban settings requires a high degree of compartmentalization, which makes it difficult for
  groups to train and organize for larger-scale operations. Urban insurgencies often operate in small cells.
  However, an urban setting does allow an insurgency to work within large population groups. The
  opportunity for mobilization of the population is therefore higher than in a rural insurgency. Historically,
  urban insurgencies have been easier to destroy than rural insurgencies. The lack of isolation is an advantage
  for counterinsurgents because they can apply constant pressure on the urban population to undermine the
  insurgency.
  4-61. Other factors of the area of operations may affect an insurgency. Tribal, religious, and social factors
  have relationships with insurgencies. The physical environment also effects insurgent movement and