How could a Qualitative Comparative Analysis be applied?

Gray Zone(s) are activities to secure strategic advantage while remaining below the threshold of U.S. commitment to engage in conventional military war. These activities include use of paramilitaries (contracted non-affiliated or training and financial support of insurgencies), foreign investments (China’s belt and road, USA’s foreign assistance fund, Russia’s oil investments in Libya and Venezuela), and development of strategic military weapons (anti-satellite, ballistic missile defense systems (THAAD, Patriot, Iron Dome, Aegis at Sea/Ashore), industrial/intellectual espionage (theft of technology secrets and university research secrets).1) ***Which elements of a thesis proposal would be most difficult for this topic and why (See the attached Thesis Proposal Instructions and Qualitative Research Methods)?*** Is a qualitative approach the best method to answer if the US has achieved strategic objectives through Gray Zones? If interviews and focus groups will not be used, is social historical research the best framework? What are strategic objectives? How could a Qualitative Comparative Analysis be applied? Finally, which qualitative methodology (interviews/focus groups are excluded) is best suited to determine if the USA Gray Zone operations or activities have achieved strategic deterrence objectives?