Law enforcement technology in counterinsurgency operations: Is CLEAR the right tool

The initial phase of the war in Iraq required traditional, high-intensity war fighting, in which the US was able to utilize its superiority in technology and firepower. After the high-intensity fighting was concluded, though, the role of US and coalition troops moved to stability operations and counterinsurgency. In an ongoing effort to improve US counterinsurgency efforts, the DoD has developed strategies, tactics, and technologies to help American troops better combat enemies that employ asymmetric warfare. This paper evaluates the effectiveness of one such innovation, the Citizen and Law Enforcement Analysis and Reporting System, and similar military versions, as a counterinsurgency tool. Its use in the civilian and military fields is studied to determine if further development of the program is worth investing in.