Thesis (M.A. in National Security Affairs)--Naval Postgraduate School, June 2005. / Thesis Advisor(s): Douglas Porch. Includes bibliographical references (p. 61-66). Also available online.

Thesis (M.S. in Defense Analysis)--Naval Postgraduate School, June 2005. / Thesis Advisor(s): Hy S. Rothstein. Includes bibliographical references (p. 93-95). Also available online.

Thesis (M.S. in Defense Analysis)--Naval Postgraduate School, June 2005. / Thesis Advisor(s): Kalev Sepp. Includes bibliographical references (p. 173-185). Also available online.

Thesis (M.A. in Security Studies (Stabilization and Reconstruction))--Naval Postgraduate School, March 2005. / Thesis Advisor(s): Douglas R. Porch. Includes bibliographical references (p. 117-127). Also available online.

Submitted by Liliane Ferreira (ljuvencia30@gmail.com) on 2018-08-20T15:17:11Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Otávio Guimarães Munhoz - 2018.pdf: 2176124 bytes, checksum: 121065d2c888e55bb8dcf5be7d91d2ea (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2018-08-21T11:21:46Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Otávio Guimarães Munhoz - 2018.pdf: 2176124 bytes, checksum: 121065d2c888e55bb8dcf5be7d91d2ea (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-21T11:21:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Otávio Guimarães Munhoz - 2018.pdf: 2176124 bytes, checksum: 121065d2c888e55bb8dcf5be7d91d2ea (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-07-27 / The present study demonstrates Human Rights Education as an indispensable way to prepare Special Operations Forces professionals to deal with the terrorist threats of the contemporary context. Thus, in view of the need to contribute to the dialogue between human rights and terrorism, the objective of this dissertation was to analyze how Education in Human Rights contributes to the formation of Brazilian Special Forces in the process of prevention and fight against terrorism. For that, bibliographical and documentary research was carried out in the first half of 2018 and had as theoretical contributions the scholars that discuss about terrorism and human rights, as well as official documents of the Brazilian Army and national and international legislation that base the protection to the subject of law. In the end, the study showed that one of the possible ways is the elaboration of a specific training module by function and / or by the technical, tactical and procedural capacities required of each military, and that it includes in an integrated way human rights education and the tactical actions to be performed by these operational elements and staff planners. / O presente estudo demonstra a Educação em Direitos Humanos como forma imprescindível para preparação de profissionais das Forças de Operações Especiais frente às ameaças terroristas do contexto contemporâneo. Assim, tendo em vista a necessidade de contribuir com o diálogo entre direitos humanos e terrorismo, o objetivo desta dissertação foi analisar como a Educação em Direitos Humanos contribui na formação das Forças Especiais brasileira no processo de prevenção e combate ao terrorismo. Para tanto, realizou-se pesquisa bibliográfica e documental, no primeiro semestre de 2018 e teve como aportes teóricos os estudiosos que discutem sobre terrorismo e direitos humanos, bem como documentos oficiais do Exército Brasileiro e a legislações nacional e internacional que embasam a proteção ao sujeito de direito. No final, o estudo mostrou que um dos caminhos possíveis é a elaboração de um módulo de adestramento específicos por função e/ou por capacidades técnica, tática e de procedimentos exigida de cada militar, e que contemple de forma integrada a educação em direitos humanos e as ações táticas a serem desempenhadas por estes elementos operacionais e planejadores de Estado Maior.

The use of special operations to achieve political and strategical aims have risen in modern warfare. There is a lack of studies about special operations in general and especially studies about protection against these operations. Therefore, the aim of this essay is to explain how a defensive actor can achieve success against an offensive special operation. Through analyzing William McRaven´s theoretical framework about relative superiority, how an offensive special operation can achieve success, with the reversed ambition three hypotheses are formed. Namely that the probability of the success of a defensive actor depends on a) concealed actions or unsystematic changes in the defense b) a relative to the special operation matutinal indication of the enemy by the defensive actor c) the defensive actor manages to contain or delay the enemy in battle. This study substantiates these hypotheses through the study of two cases of special operations, the raid on Makin Island 1942 and Operation Prelim 1982. The two latter hypotheses were strengthened in the study; however, the result depends on the delamination and definitions of vital concepts of the study. In combination, the hypotheses are an embryo of academical understanding of protection against a special operation and should be considered an inspiration for additional and more extensive studies on the phenomenon.

No description available.

The dominant trend in international security over the past decade has been a move towards ‘remote control’: the increasing use of special forces, private military and security companies and remote systems at the expense of the engagement of large forces. Paul Rogers analyses how this trend has developed, and asks whether it can really provide an appropriate response to the likely threats against global security in the coming years.

Mefloquine hydrochloride is an antimalarial agent that has been used for the past 40 years. Numerous reports of neurological side effects have recently led the FDA to issue a strong warning regarding long-term neurological effects. This warning lead to the U.S. Army’s Special Forces and other components to discontinue its use in July of 2013. Despite reported adverse side effects, mefloquine remains in circulation and is recommended to travelers going to specific Asian countries. Mefloquine has been used as a treatment for those already infected with the malaria parasite (blood concentrations ranging from 2.1 to 23 µM), and as prophylaxis (blood concentrations averaging 3.8 µM) (Dow 2003). The purpose of this study was to quantify Mefloquine’s toxicity using spontaneously active nerve cell networks growing on microelectrode arrays in vitro and to identify compounds that alleviate or reduce toxic effects. The current literature on mefloquine toxicity is lacking electrophysiological data. These data will contribute to research on the mechanism of adverse side effects associated with mefloquine use. Sequential titration experiments were performed by adding increasing concentrations of mefloquine solution to cultured neurons. Network responses were quantified and reversibility was examined. In each network, activity decreases were normalized as a percent of reference activity yielding a mean IC50 value of 5.97 ± 0.44 (SD) µM (n=6). After total activity loss, no activity was recovered with two successive medium changes. To test for network response desensitization resulting from sequential applications over 5-6 hr periods, one-point titrations at varying concentrations were conducted with fresh networks. These experiments yielded a single concentration response curve with an IC50 value of 2.97 µM. This represents a statistically significant shift (p < 0.0001) to lower concentrations of mefloquine, demonstrating that sequential applications result in network desensitization. After mefloquine exposures, cells were evaluated for irreversible cytotoxic damage. Over a 12-hour period under 6 µM mefloquine, process beading and granulation of somal cytoplasm were observed. At 8 µM mefloquine cell stress was apparent after only 10 minutes with major glial damage and process beading at 120 minutes. In this study, quinolinic acid served as a neuroprotectant at 20 µM. There have been multiple studies on the endogenous concentrations of quinolinic acid and current literature is quite variable. Immunocompromised individuals have some of the highest blood levels of quinolinic acid (up to 20 µM). With 30 min pre-applications of quinolinic acid, the mefloquine IC50 value shifted from 5.97 ± 0.44 µM (n=6), to 9.28 ± 0.55 µM (n=3). This represents a statistically significant change to higher mefloquine concentrations and demonstrates neuroprotection.

Approved for public release; distribution in unlimited. / Trying to adapt to the post-9/11 challenges to Euro-Atlantic security, the Romanian Ministry of National Defense continues its efforts to modernize and professionalize the country's armed forces in accordance with NATO standards. Part of this process is the development of a Special Forces (SF) capability that is to accomplish initial operational readiness by FY 2005. With appropriate organizational arrangements and focused combat training, the Romanian SF will increase their performance during future deployments in joint and combined settings. This project analyzes Romania's strategic documents, identifies the missions that can be conducted by the country's General-Purpose Forces or other security services, and finally proposes five appropriate tasks for the SF: Combating Terrorism, Counterproliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, Special Reconnaissance, Direct Action, and Security Detail for Romanian officials in crisis zones. In exploring what are the most effective structural arrangements for the Romanian Special Forces, this thesis uses a design program the recommendations of which lead to the proposal of a new organizational structure. Thus, it is determined that Romania's Special Forces elements should develop into a flexible, highly-mobile and joint organization displaying a flat hierarchy and centralized command and control. / Lieutenant, Romanian Army