COIN

“Accidental Guerrilla” Syndrome in California, 1836-1846

SWJED — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 07:21:35 +0000

“Accidental Guerrilla” Syndrome in California, 1836-1846 SWJED Wed, 04/01/2020 - 3:21am

Sun Tzu’s injunction to “know your enemy” is never more critical than in counterinsurgency (COIN) warfare. During its COIN conflicts in the last hundred years, the United States military has fallen especially prey to the thinking trap of lumping all its opponents into the same category. COIN expert David Kilcullen identified this phenomenon as “accidental guerrilla syndrome” in his 2009 book of the same name.

Taliban Fragmentation: Fact, Fiction, and Future

SWJED — Mon, 30 Mar 2020 13:09:21 +0000

Taliban Fragmentation: Fact, Fiction, and Future SWJED Mon, 03/30/2020 - 9:09am

For years, the U.S. military pursued a "divide and defeat" strategy against the Afghan Taliban, attempting to exploit the supposedly fragmented nature of the group. Drawing on the academic literature on insurgency, civil war, and negotiated peace, this report finds that the Taliban is a far more cohesive organization than a fragmented one.

Winning Small Wars in Contests for the People

SWJED — Thu, 05 Mar 2020 17:28:48 +0000

Winning Small Wars in Contests for the People SWJED Thu, 03/05/2020 - 12:28pm

A dilemma is now facing western militaries, in-so-far as, the contextual terrain has shifted to such an extent that their enemies refuse to engage them in a manner that would ensure their own destruction. Focus on this modern Sphacterian-dilemma has led to discussions and debates that are encapsulated within the ‘War amongst the people’ arena.

Case Analysis: The FARC in Colombia

SWJED — Thu, 05 Mar 2020 05:42:40 +0000

Case Analysis: The FARC in Colombia SWJED Thu, 03/05/2020 - 12:42am

An understanding of this particular case offers not only relevant lessons for the U.S. in our continuing small wars operations, but also on national interests in Colombia—including economic considerations and counter-narcotics efforts—could become threatened by FARC’s dissident groups.

The Three Misunderstandings of Soviet Counterinsurgency in Afghanistan

SWJED — Wed, 19 Feb 2020 15:58:47 +0000

The Three Misunderstandings of Soviet Counterinsurgency in Afghanistan SWJED Wed, 02/19/2020 - 10:58am

Several major actions taken by the United States and coalition in the last 18 years share much in common with the efforts of the Soviet Union during its combat operations in the country (1979-1989). It is therefore incumbent upon any student of the current conflict to firmly understand the Soviet conflict, its doctrine, execution, and most importantly, the Soviet methods of counterinsurgency.

Improving the Understanding of Political Legitimacy in COIN Doctrine

SWJED — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 14:45:41 +0000

Improving the Understanding of Political Legitimacy in COIN Doctrine SWJED Tue, 02/18/2020 - 9:45am

Army and Marine Corps Counterinsurgency Doctrine was initially developed in the midst of the Iraq War as the military struggled to accept the situation it found itself in and struggled to create a strategy to address it. Initially published in 2004 as an interim doctrine, and then in 2006 as a completed publication, the Army and Marine Corps’ primary counterinsurgency doctrine has only been updated once since then.

PLAN COLOMBIA: Learning from a Light-footprint “America Second” Military Strategy

SWJED — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 13:02:09 +0000

PLAN COLOMBIA: Learning from a Light-footprint “America Second” Military Strategy SWJED Tue, 02/18/2020 - 8:02am

The United States has intervened repeatedly in the southern hemisphere for a myriad of reasons, but primarily to address growing problems metastasizing at the “Southern strategic approaches” to American territory. While today’s problem of 2015-2020 is one of human mass migration, the previous crisis of 2000 to 2010 stemmed from of an epidemic of illicit drugs. This threat was so pernicious at that period, the United States felt compelled to act with our partner nation of Colombia. With a combination of all instruments of national power, a holistic strategy with a small but powerful military theme emerged.

The Three Misunderstandings of Soviet Counterinsurgency in Afghanistan

SWJED — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 14:39:54 +0000

The Three Misunderstandings of Soviet Counterinsurgency in Afghanistan SWJED Wed, 01/15/2020 - 9:39am

Several major actions taken by the United States and coalition in the last 18 years share much in common with the efforts of the Soviet Union during its combat operations in the country (1979-1989).

Revisiting an Alternative Approach to Fighting Small Wars: The Works of Charles Wolf Jr. and Nathan Leites, 1965 to 1970

SWJED — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 13:21:35 +0000

Revisiting an Alternative Approach to Fighting Small Wars: The Works of Charles Wolf Jr. and Nathan Leites, 1965 to 1970 SWJED Fri, 01/10/2020 - 8:21am

All too often academics and practitioners concern themselves with the latest theory or framework addressing some aspect of security studies, in this case insurgency and counterinsurgency. An excessive focus on the “now” does a disservice to the knowledge and hard work of those thinkers who came before. Often times the “new” drowns out the voices of the recent past who may have pushed against the current tide and offered an alternative to what may have become common wisdom.

What ‘The Afghanistan Papers’ Got Wrong

SWJED — Fri, 20 Dec 2019 09:30:55 +0000

What ‘The Afghanistan Papers’ Got Wrong SWJED Fri, 12/20/2019 - 4:30am

The problem was not that U.S. officials lied to the public—it’s that for so long many believed that the war was winnable.