Al-Shabaab can be targeted by stage — Phase One (pre-establishment) read through historical and cultural context, Phase Two (formation and growth) through social-movement theory, Phase Three (mature organization) through organizational-design theory — and deterrence is judged a workable strategy only at certain seams, gaps, strengths, and weaknesses in each stage; military operations alone are "an insufficient long-term counter-extremism strategy."

— In our words · Source: Phases of violent extremism: targeting the evolution of Al-Shabaab (Richard S. Jordan)