Quote Originally Posted by William F. Owen View Post
What's the difference between conflicts and COIN? None as far as I can tell.
My point here was not really to argue that conflicts are different than counterinsurgencies, but to clarify my interest in learning what factors would make the "utility of force" vary in different COIN campaigns (as well as perhaps in different non-COIN conflicts).

Quote Originally Posted by William F. Owen View Post
In my opinion the disagreements are because we don't agree on how to apply military force to gain a political objective.
That's insightful, I think. So if I understand your point - there is consensus that the political objective in any COIN campaign is to establish the control by the counterinsurgent's government (CG). But some think the only/best way to to establish CG control is to overwhelm the resistance with devastating force - and that overdoing is unlikely to significantly interfere with establishing and sustaining the CG control. CG control - in this model - is a function of coercive power, not political legitimacy.

While other believe that the only/best way to establish CG control is to use force selectively so as not to risk alienating the population. CG control - in this model - is a function of political legitimacy.

Does that fairly characterize the positions or am I off base?