Deconstructing Kilcullen's Counterinsurgency
I picked up my copy of Davd Kilcullen's Counterinsurgency yesterday. In the preface, he states his purpose,
Quote:
This book is far from a definitive study on this ancient subject about which so much has already been written. It is merely an incomplete selection of tentative, still-developing thoughts, from a practisioner's perspective, on the guerrilla wars we are currently fighting. I hope that other practisioners and students will find in it much to agree and to disagree with, and that it will thereby form part of a continuing critical debate.
(p. x).
I wanted to create a thread where we can discuss the merits and imperfections of Kilcullen's arguments. As I make my way through the book, I'll post excerpts that I disagree with to foster debate.
Mike
Kilcullen on other threads
Methodology and Research Questions
One lesson that I learned through the hard lessons of platoon leader and company command in combat that was reinforced in the advanced studies of academia was the importance of asking the right questions when trying to understand difficult problem sets.
Regardless of whether one is trying to conduct initial IPB (Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield) of a new AOR (Area of Responsibility) in a small war or embarking on a master's thesis, the questions asked drive the process.
Dr. Kilcullen begins with these questions that drives his thoughts,
Quote:
1. What kind of state are we trying to build or assist?
2. How compatible is the local government's character with our own?
3. What kinds of states have proven viable in the past, in this country and with this population?
4. What evidence is there that the kind of state we are trying to build will be viable here?
Is he asking the right questions?
I'm about 50/50 with him. I think that he missed two big questions.
Four Missing Questions...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Kevin23
What two questions do you think he missed? As I am also in the process of reading Kilcullen's 2nd book right now.
Btw, I think this thread would be better placed in a another section since it is about a book and related discussion then recent news.
My bad if I placed it in the wrong section.
Okay, IMO, other questions to consider,
1. Do we intervene in third-country counterinsurgencies?
2. If so, to what degree? Ranging from one advisor to a million man army.
3. Whom do we send? Ranging from political advisors to occupation forces.
4. What do they do? Ranging from advising in safe, rear areas to taking charge of clearing denied guerrilla safehavens.
The discussion, debate, and answers to those questions define the crux of the current dillemma in A'stan.