Glenn - Rethinking Western Approaches to Counterinsurgency: Lessons From Post-Colonial Conflict

Russell Glenn, one of the most original thinkers and diligent researchers on Counterinsurgency, has done us an enormous favour. Recognizing the limits of a theory based solely on the canon of mid-twentieth century cases like Malaya and Algeria, he gives a much-needed corrective, analyzing modern variations of insurgency, and the range of innovative responses to it. This insightful book should be required reading for all students and practitioners of this complex and constantly-evolving form of war.

David J. Kilcullen, Counterinsurgency Advisor to the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan

With conflict and chaos in much of North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia, the need to understand counterinsurgency is as great as ever. COIN isnt dead; we just need to do it better. Russ Glenns pioneering new book outlines lessons from eight recent and little known insurgencies. It is essential reading.

Nicholas P. Warner, Director-General, Australian Secret Intelligence Service

Insurgency is changing in shape and form; to counter it successfully, we must adapt accordingly. This book is a timely, thought-provoking and critical examination of our current approaches to counterinsurgency, challenging many widely-held tenets. A must read for practitioners. It will probably find its way on to the insurgents reading list, too.

Sir John P. Kiszely, former Director of the UK Defence Academy and Senior British Military Representative and Deputy Commanding General, Multinational Force, Iraq

A comprehensive, thoughtful analysis of the evolution of the theory and practice of counterinsurgency operations with superb case studies and well-considered conclusions that should be studied carefully by any student or practitioner of COIN.

General David H. Petraeus, US Army, Retired

Rethinking Western Approaches to Counterinsurgency

This book critically examines the Western approach to counterinsurgency in the post-colonial era and offers a series of recommendations to address current shortfalls.

The author argues that current approaches to countering insurgency rely too heavily on conflicts from the post-World War II years of waning colonialism. Campaigns conducted over half a century ago Malaya, Aden, and Kenya among them remain primary sources on which the United States, British, Australian, and other militaries build their guidance for dealing with insurgent threats, though both the character of those threats and the conflict environment are significantly different than was the case in those earlier years. This book addresses the resulting inconsistencies by offering insights, analysis, and recommendations drawn from campaigns more applicable to counterinsurgency today.

Eight post-colonial conflicts to include Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone, Colombia and Iraq provide the basis for analysis. All are examples in which counterinsurgents attained or continue to demonstrate considerable progress when taking on enterprises better known for disaster and disappointment. Recommendations resulting from these analyses challenge entrenched beliefs to serve as the impetus for essential change.

Rethinking Western Approaches to Counterinsurgency will be of much interest to students of counterinsurgencies, military and strategic studies, security studies and IR in general.

Russell W. Glenn is Senior Lecturer in military operations and national security studies at The Australian National University, Canberra. He has a PhD in American History from the University of Kansas.

Studies in Insurgency, Counterinsurgency and National Security

Series Editors:

Paul Rich

Editor of Small Wars and Insurgencies

and

Isabelle Duyvesteyn

Utrecht University

This series seeks to publish comparative surveys as well as more detailed in-depth case studies on insurgent movements and counter-insurgent responses. The aim is to provide both fresh and innovative analytical perspectives on new and hitherto unknown or neglected research materials and documentation, including the resources from historical archives as well as oral or field work data.

The Theory and Practice of Irregular Warfare

Warrior-scholarship in counter-insurgency

Edited by Andrew Mumford and Bruno Reis

Indian National Security and Counter-Insurgency

The use of force vs non-violent response

Namrata Goswami

Rethinking Western Approaches to Counterinsurgency

Lessons from post-colonial conflict

Russell W. Glenn

Rethinking Western Approaches to Counterinsurgency

Lessons from post-colonial conflict

Russell W. Glenn

First published 2015

by Routledge

2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN

and by Routledge

711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017

Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business

2015 Russell W. Glenn

The right of Russell W. Glenn to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Glenn, Russell W.

Rethinking western approaches to counterinsurgency : lessons from post-colonial conflict / Russell W. Glenn.

pages cm. (Studies in insurgency, counterinsurgency and national security)

Includes bibliographical references and index.

1. Counterinsurgency. 2. CounterinsurgencyCase studies. I. Title.

U241.G544 2015

355.02'18dc23

2014043676

ISBN: 978-1-138-81933-7 (hbk)

ISBN: 978-1-315-74465-0 (ebk)

Typeset in Baskerville

by Wearset Ltd, Boldon, Tyne and Wear

Every effort has been made to contact copyright holders for their permission to reprint material in this book. The publishers would be grateful to hear from any copyright holder who is not here acknowledged and will undertake to rectify any errors or omissions in future editions of this book.

To all who read to learn
Who learn to improve
Who improve to serve
And who serve with an open mind for the greater good

Contents

This offering includes insights from many friends and colleagues whose reviews were of great value as I put pen to paper (or, less prosaically, fingers to keyboard). Among those kind enough to review individual chapters are Chris Albiston, J.B. Burton, Bill Duff, Chris Field, Tim Thomas, Jim Vega, and Ivan Welch. Richard Iron, Dan Marston, and Chris North were extraordinary in assuming the burden of reviewing an early version of the entire manuscript.

Extensive thanks are due to Rusty Rafferty at Fort Leavenworths Combined Arms Research Library, a research librarian of extraordinary talent and a friend. The list of others whose thoughts have added to my counter-insurgency understanding is far too long for my memory to properly acknowledge all (lost email accounts and the many years do not help in that regard). Among others with direct impact on the enclosed pages beyond the kindness of granting an interview: Alex Alderson, Clint Ancker, Gideon Avidor, Jonathan Bailey, Scott Bamonte, Joe Bolick, Kevin Born, Johnny Brooks, Jay Bruder, James Bryant, Peter Chiarelli, Ron Christmas, Neil Chuka, Tom Chychota, Roger Cirillo, Howard Coombs, Singe Coughlin, Scott Crino, Dave Dilegge, Lou Dimarco, Greg Fontenot, John Frewen, Tony Funkhouser, Paul Gaertner, Jan Frederik Geiner, Fred Gellert, Les Grau, Tom Greco, Joe Guido, Gordon Hagar, Sid Heal, Todd Helmus, Paul Hooker, Simon Johnstone, Bob Jones, Dave Kilcullen, John Kiszely, Jim Linder, Colin Magee, RAM Martin, David Maxwell, Jamison Jo Medby, Paul Mitchell, George Mordica, James OSullivan, Henk Oerlemans, Jim Pasquarette, David Petraeus, David Perkins, Luc Pigeon, Jim Quinlivan, Fidel Ramos, David Richards, Rick Riker, Bill Rollo, David Russell-Parsons, Duane Schattle, Bob Shaw, Randy Steeb, Omer Tooley, Stuart Tootal, Johan van Houten, Paul Van Riper, Nick Warner, Steve White, Stuart Yeaman, and any members of the United States Armys School of Advanced Military Studies Seminar 4 from the academic years 19871988 and 19941996 not already listed.