What does the Military do in COIN?

[Hacksaw]

Wilf, I would suggest you have successfully crossed the starting line of the marathon you are about to embark upon. The provision of a modicum of security to the general public is the start point and provides the opportunity for the counterinsurgent (be they host nation - most preferred or support force/coalition) the opportunity to seperate the insurgent from the public both physically and intellectually. Then along parallel/simultaneous lines of operations, the counterinsurgent supports the performance of the services the public/culture (as opposed to what we may think) expects of its government, and we either kill the irreconcileables or turn the ones who picked up arms as a legitimate beef. An over-simplification I know, but until you create the space between the insurgent and the population its near impossible to identify, find, and kill the irreconcilable much less turn the insurgent who is willing to submit to government authority.

Live well and row

[William F. Owen]

Wilf, I would suggest you have successfully crossed the starting line of the marathon you are about to embark upon. The provision of a modicum of security to the general public is the start point and provides the opportunity for the counterinsurgent (be they host nation - most preferred or support force/coalition) the opportunity to seperate the insurgent from the public both physically and intellectually. Then along parallel/simultaneous lines of operations, the counterinsurgent supports the performance of the services the public/culture (as opposed to what we may think) expects of its government, and we either kill the irreconcileables or turn the ones who picked up arms as a legitimate beef. An over-simplification I know, but until you create the space between the insurgent and the population its near impossible to identify, find, and kill the irreconcilable much less turn the insurgent who is willing to submit to government authority.

Hack mate. Thanks. Being schooled in the British Army, I grew up on Kitson, so when it comes to the physical and intellectual (moral?) isolation of the insurgent, I hear what you say and I think I agree.

[Hacksaw]

Got "Low Intensity operations - Suversion, Insurgency & Peacekeeping" on my desk. Somehow even us "In the box, 3-24 dogmatics" have found a way to discover that all knowledge does not flow from Galula and Petraeus or is it the other way around

Live well and row

[Ron Humphrey]

Got "Low Intensity operations - Suversion, Insurgency & Peacekeeping" on my desk. Somehow even us "In the box, 3-24 dogmatics" have found a way to discover that all knowledge does not flow from Galula and Petraeus or is it the other way around

Live well and row

Without youins in-the-boxers us outta-the-boxers might get lost in our brilliance.