text: Assessments
  several important factors. For example, it does not measure which side the local population blames for
  collateral damage, whether this fighting and resultant casualties damaged the insurgent infrastructure and
  affected the insurgency strategy in that area, and where families of dead insurgents reside and how they
  might react. Within the essential services lines of effort, the number of schools built or renovated does not
  equate to the effective operation of an educational system, nor is it as important as the number of children
  in school. Moreover, counterinsurgents should question whether the number of children taught is an
  important measure at all.
  12-29. Planners start with broad measures of social and economic health or weakness when assessing
  environmental conditions. Examples of possible counterinsurgency indicators include—
  * Acts of violence (numbers of attacks and friendly or host-nation casualties).
  * Dislocated civilians. The number, population, and demographics of dislocated camps or the lack
  of lack of camps are indicators of overall security and stability. A drop in the number of people
  in camps often indicates a return to normalcy. The numbers of people and families exiled from
  or fleeing their homes and property and people returning to them are measurable and revealing.
  Human movement and religious attendance. Religious activity can be used as a measure of
  
  religious freedom and of how much confidence the population has in their government’s
  security. Possible indicators include the ability or lack of ability of religious pilgrims to move
  about the country.
  Development and active use of places of worship.
  
  Number of religious structures (for example, temples, churches, mosques, religious schools)
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  closed by a government.
  * Presence and activity of small- and medium-sized businesses. When danger or insecure
  conditions exist, these businesses close. Patrols can report on the number of businesses that are
  open and how many customers they have. Tax collections may indicate the overall amount of
  sales activity.
  * Level of agricultural activity:
  Is a province, region, or nation self-sustaining, or must life-support type foodstuffs be
  
  imported?
  How many acres are under cultivation? Are the fields well maintained and watered?
  
  Are agricultural goods getting to market? Has the annual need increased or decreased?
  
  * Presence or absence of associations. The formation and presence of multiple political parties
  indicates more involvement of the people in government. Meetings of independent professional
  associations demonstrate the viability of the middle class and professions. Trade union activity
  indicates worker involvement in the economy and politics.
  * Government services available. Examples include—
  Police stations operational and police officers present throughout the area.
  
  Clinics and hospitals in full operation, and whether or not new facilities sponsored by the
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  private sector are open and operational.
  Schools and universities open, functioning, with increasing attendance over time.
  
  * Freedom of movement of people, goods, and communications. This is a classic measure to
  determine if an insurgency has denied areas in the physical, electronic, or print domains.
  * Tax revenue. If people are paying taxes, this can be an indicator of host-nation government
  influence and subsequent civil stability.
  * Industry exports.
  * Employment or unemployment rate over time. An increasing employment rate over time is
  generally a sign of stability.
  * Amount of electricity produced. Increasing production of electricity is associated with provisions
  for essential services. However, increased stability often results in greater demand so care must
  be taken in the use of this indicator.
  * Specific attacks on infrastructure.