Edward Luttwak - Counterinsurgency as Military Malpractice

[TROUFION]

Luttwak is probably most famous for his theory on Civil Wars: Let them Fight.

It will make you think so it is worth reading up on the theory. There are many contentious points to dig in on. Might be worth a seperate thread: Luttwak's let them fight theory of civil wars...

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/S...ubContrassID=4

http://www.uruknet.info/?p=m30399&s1=h1

http://globetrotter.berkeley.edu/con...twak-con0.html

Luttwak on Iraq: "One reason for optimism...is that the violence itself has been separating previously mixed populations, reducing motives and opportunities for further attacks. That is how civil wars can burn themselves out."

Luttwak on Civil Wars: "Civil wars can be especially atrocious as neighbors kill each other at close range, but they, too, have a purpose in this world - they can bring lasting peace by destroying the will to fight, and by removing the motives and opportunities for further violence."

Luttwak on COIN: "Occupiers can thus be successful without need of any specialized counterinsurgency methods or tactics if they are willing to out-terrorize the insurgents, so that the fear of reprisals outweighs the desire to help the insurgents or their threats."