CIAO DATE: 07/2012
May 2012
Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard University
Leadership decapitation has largely failed to produce desired policy results against organizations other than terrorist groups, such as state regimes and drug cartels. For example, killing or capturing kingpins has had little effect on the flow of drugs into the United States, and worse, it has often led to more drugs, more cartels, and more violence. Terrorist groups are different. Because they are violent, clandestine, and values-based organizations, terrorist groups are especially susceptible to leadership decapitation.
Resource link: Leadership Decapitation and the End of Terrorist Groups [PDF] - 461K