Complex Attack

A reasonably decent analysis of the Alvarado attack. The author is using the language of military intelligence, including specifying MLECOA and MDECOA (you’ll see it spelled out at the link). His alternative is that one I think is actually the most likely. 

A “complex attack” is one in which more than one element is involved, e.g. instead of just opening fire with a rifle, first setting off explosions and then opening fire. In Iraq, a common version was to use an IED to disable an American convoy, and then hit it with a team using small arms fire once the American soldiers dismounted. Here, an attention-drawing fireworks attack drew out law enforcement, who were then ambushed by shooters. 

1 comment:

raven said...

Sort of standard, isn't it? An attacker has to get the initiative somehow, if they want to succeed. The IRA used to call in a road accident, so they could ambush the responders. etc. There are no end of ways to use "bait". I have not read any confirmation, but it sounds like the firefighters attacked in Idaho were responding to a "bait" fire.
The problem society wise is this eventually makes the responders reluctant to respond, thus hastening the collapse of the social order.
And the use of extra-legal teams (kill squads) to defeat this sort of thing has it's own set of problems, as they will get used to a lack of limits and operate to their own ends.