Operations against enemy leaders

"This report assesses the political-military efficacy of U.S. operations to remove senior enemy leaders. Three forms of leadership attacks are assessed: (1) operations that aim to directly attack the leader's person, (2) operations that are designed to foment and facilitate the leader's overthrow by an internal coup or rebellion, and (3) operations that aim to secure the leader's overthrow through takedown by external military forces. Among other issues, the report examines the prerequisites of the effective use of U.S. air power in direct attacks and in support of coups, rebellions, and takedowns. The report analyzes some 24 cases of leadership attack conducted or planned by the United States and other powers during the past 50 years. These past cases provide important insights about both the policy and the operational dimensions of leadership attacks ..."--Preface.