TITLE:
Over Two Decades of Lip Sticking Military Counterterrorism: Until Victims Are Turned into Supporters of Killers
AUTHORS:
Francis Kabosha
KEYWORDS:
Lip Sticking Military Counterterrorism, Suspect Communities, Integrated Adaptation, Civilian-Led Counterterrorism, Community Sovereignty
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.13 No.8,
August
31,
2026
ABSTRACT: This paper argues that heavy reliance on military counterterrorism since 9/11 can weaken trust, disrupt local social order, and push affected communities toward noncooperation or support for armed groups. It uses a qualitative, conceptual discussion supported by case examples, policy documents, and secondary literature. Its main conclusion is that counterterrorism should be judged less by enemy attrition and more by whether it builds legitimacy, community trust, and resilience.