It may be interesting to note, that this is the SWJ Town Square Scene, NOT the "New COIN" Town Square. Only Gian Gentile actually participates here and he is not one of the COIN boys. I'm here because most of the views here are very sceptical of COIN.Originally Posted by Cold Sea
Infinity Journal "I don't care if this works in practice. I want to see it work in theory!"
- The job of the British Army out here is to kill or capture Communist Terrorists in Malaya.
- If we can double the ratio of kills per contact, we will soon put an end to the shooting in Malaya.
Sir Gerald Templer, foreword to the "Conduct of Anti-Terrorist Operations in Malaya," 1958 Edition
What other COIN skeptics should be included?
Why just fixate on current events? This isn't the SWJ Current Conflicts Town Square, either. Small Wars are timeless in so many ways (and will most likely remain so until Wilf can impose his war dictatorship that only allows major state-on-state refereed events....). You could have a bemused member of Marius' Mules resting on his pilum and looking at his modern counterpart (a Marine, perhaps, with his 100lb+ 'combat load'). Behind them could be a member of Mackenzie's Fourth Cavalry kitted out for campaign, and the ubiquitous "Red Coat" fitted for an extended patrol in India or Afghanistan. Scouts and auxiliaries from all eras could be shown brewing coffee around a fire, waiting for the large state troops to get their acts in gear.
The idea of small wars transcends eras, no matter how much doctrinal bickering may currently surround them.
"On the plains and mountains of the American West, the United States Army had once learned everything there was to learn about hit-and-run tactics and guerrilla warfare."
T.R. Fehrenbach This Kind of War
Which brings up an interesting point...Should historical figures like Che or Giap be included in this particular illustration?
Giap would be a candidate for sure. Che already has his own t-shirt.
"On the plains and mountains of the American West, the United States Army had once learned everything there was to learn about hit-and-run tactics and guerrilla warfare."
T.R. Fehrenbach This Kind of War
Point taken about Che...
But I suppose that the illustration is about counterinsurgents, not insurgents...So I retract my suggestion about Giap. Otherwise the illustration would have to include Mao, Sandino, Aguinaldo, OBL, etc.
How about the picture of Che on the morgue slabit was published in a lot of papers back in the day.
I don't know...many service members have an affinity for T.E. Lawrence, and he was definitely the insurgent.
Actually the opposite. I'm a Small Wars guy!(and will most likely remain so until Wilf can impose his war dictatorship that only allows major state-on-state refereed events....
Big Wars are extremely scary and dangerous and require actual expertise. You have to be able to command, do logistics and move large numbers of men.
Small Wars has none of that, and they are rarely strategically decisive. I'd rather be crushing rebellions than fighting for anything that actually mattered, against anyone who was actually any good!
Infinity Journal "I don't care if this works in practice. I want to see it work in theory!"
- The job of the British Army out here is to kill or capture Communist Terrorists in Malaya.
- If we can double the ratio of kills per contact, we will soon put an end to the shooting in Malaya.
Sir Gerald Templer, foreword to the "Conduct of Anti-Terrorist Operations in Malaya," 1958 Edition
From the Dept. of First Kill All Stinking Cong Then Go Home
Rambo: First Blood Part II - The Musical (You Not Expendable)
You Not Expendable (Youtube Link)
(Hat Tip - Dangerous Minds)
Rand Held its COIN Symposium in 1962 could do a round table with Stephen Hosmer facilitating these honorable gentlemen:
Charles T.R. Bohannan, Lieutenant Colonel, AUS-Ret.
Wendell W. Fertig, Colonel, USA-Ret.
David Galula, Lieutenant Colonel (French Marine Corps)
Anthony S. Jeapes, Captain (British Army)
Frank E. Kitson, MBE, MC, Lieutenant Colonel (British Army)
Edward Geary Lansdale, Brigadier General, USAF
Rufus C. Phillips, III
David Leonard Powell-Jones, DSO, OBEY Brigadier General
(British Army)
John R. Shirley, OBE, Colonel (British Army-Ret.)
Napoleon D. Valeriano, Colonel (formerly with the Armed Forces
of the Philippines)
John F. White, Colonel (Royal Australian Army)
Samuel V. Wilson, Lieutenant Colonel, USA
They skipped Sir Robert Thompson!
Here's the link to the document. The file is rather large, but well worth the read for anyone that wants to be a serious practisioner. As with all Rand products, make sure you click the free download button and not the "pay to play" button.
http://www.rand.org/pubs/reports/R412-1/
Posting Permissions
Bookmarks