Imagine you are the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and terrorists have recently launched a series of devastating attacks on major sites in London. The attacks are the worst in UK history and you must respond. Your top military and foreign affairs officials have brought you all of the available options.
The terrorist organization responsible for the attacks is based in Turkmenistan. While the government of Turkmenistan does not overtly support the organization, it does not actively combat the organization either, and some intelligence reports have hinted that there may even be connections between government officials and individuals in the terrorist organization. Furthermore, while Turkmenistan has expressed its condolences, it has not offered any direct aid in seeking out those responsible for the attacks.
The individuals who actually carried out the attacks all died in the attacks, but the support network that helped organize and fund the attacks continues to operate in London and throughout the United Kingdom.
| Launch covert operations in Turkmenistan | A full invasion would be too egregious of a violation of Turkmen sovereignty, and special forces will be more effective at finding and destroying terrorist cells than an invasion force would be. |
| Invade Turkmenistan | Invade to find and combat the terrorist organization. The international community is sympathetic in the aftermath of the attacks, and well-conducted diplomacy could build an international coalition that would make short work of rooting out and destroying the terrorist organization's home network in Turkmenistan. |
| Launch a propaganda campaign | Launch a campaign in Turkmenistan to win the hearts and minds of the Turkmen population. Try to undercut recruitment efforts and undermine popular support for the organization in Turkmenistan. If the organization is unwelcome in its home country, it will be hamstrung in its efforts abroad. |
| Offer economic incentives | Offer these incentives to and engage in diplomacy with Turkmenistan. Diplomacy and economic incentives might be able to turn Turkmenistan into a true ally in this conflict, and with Turkmen help it will be much easier to find and destroy the terrorist organization. |
| Launch drone strikes | Strike against known terrorist targets in Turkmenistan. Take out the enemy without sending a single troop. |