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David/Carl,

I've got your questions written down. If anyone else has questions, then let me know.

Thanks

Mike

This Thursday, we're hosting a book signing event for Dr. David Kilcullen's "Counterinsurgency" in Fredericksburg, VA. As I'm framing my own questions, I thought that I'd open it up to the Council....

94 comments into this thread, the old men are debating the significance of pyramids over circles, and I haven't even read through Dr. K's introduction yet.

Either we're all senile, or this thread...

I'd go further to say that the old language 1890's-1960's is much more adequate than our stuff. The eloquence of the verse is descriptive and explanatory in ways that we only now minimize.

I feel...

Ugh, I must have slept through that class. Maybe I should have done a little less rugby and a bit more study :D.

So, that's what I've been missing all these years :D.

Okay, so I let my personal and professional life take me away from my study of warfare for a couple of weeks. I know, I know, no excuses. Back on track.

One area where Dr. K and I find common...

Sorry for being vague. I've heard it in two wargame situations over the last two years- one ran by the military, one by academia. I confess to not knowing too much about Indonesia, and I was...

I have a wedding this weekend for one of my old platoon leaders. He's now a company commander in my old unit. Last night, we had the rehearsal dinner and festivities (so minimize my last three...

Concur, and the bold emphasis is mine.

as it should be read by everyone.

Arnie,

Even though I'm gonna critique this book to death, Dr. K is the only willing person so far to have the balls (intestinal fortitude in army speak) to...

Argue away, just back it up with at least some historical examples of success. That argument is an assumption (the kind that make an ass out of u and me) hence my four additional questions. Tom...

Very good comments all around. I feel bad for beating up Dr. K this much, and I haven't even gotten through the introduction.

Here's a great speech that he gave at Google a while back.

I like the way that you're thinking. What a concept- let the host nation take responsibility for their own country. BTW, it's also much cheaper in both US blood and treasure, and, in the long term,...

Good comments, Steve, and I should clarify my position. That page just pissed me off. Certainly, if you can find a way to end an insurgency nonviolent, that is wonderful just like my favorite...

A King without a Crown- the forlorn hope of winning hearts and minds.

- Matisyahu

Before we proceed, I would ask that someone/anyone provide a moment or a case study when a third party actor...

Well, I for one appreciate your thoughts. I just didn't think this was the appropriate thread. Your words are broad, deep, and wide.

I'm actually going to come back to them as I continue to...

No worries. This is a continual debate that I have with my brother. As you probably figured out, I'm a Christian. But, as a commander, I had Jews, Muslims, Mormons, Athiests, and Goth dudes under...

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...

Steady Rex, steady! Stay strong and focused. BTW, yesterday Glenn Beck compared us bloggers to the pamphleteers of the 1760/70s. Absorb that one as us Americans celebrate our Independence Day...

I don't know. My brother is a pastor that does extensive mission work in Kenya and other parts of Africa with other pastors. I'll ask him. This seems odd to me that we'd work FID through the Great...

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...

Number 6 is interesting. That's probably a topic worthy of it own thread.

Steve- it's only $15:D.

David- thanks. I was about to link the past threads. For this thread, it is probably best to avoid the 28 Articles. Instead, focus more on his research methodology,...

Starbuck's offered his review of the book at Permissible Arms.

Karaka Pend's review at Wings over Iraq.