Brit expert says the U.S. Army never really did population-centric COIN in Vietnam
Not at all, concludes a new study by J.P. Harris, a teacher at Sandhurst, the British military academy: “It is doubtful whether a truly population-centric approach to counterinsurgency ever really took root in the US Army during the 1960s and early 1970s, even in its Special Forces.” There is a bit more in this Naval ...
Not at all, concludes a new study by J.P. Harris, a teacher at Sandhurst, the British military academy: "It is doubtful whether a truly population-centric approach to counterinsurgency ever really took root in the US Army during the 1960s and early 1970s, even in its Special Forces."
Not at all, concludes a new study by J.P. Harris, a teacher at Sandhurst, the British military academy: “It is doubtful whether a truly population-centric approach to counterinsurgency ever really took root in the US Army during the 1960s and early 1970s, even in its Special Forces.”
There is a bit more in this Naval Post Graduate School essay by Maj. Michael Sullivan (on p. 27 of the book). And here, too, if you wanna get all CIDG about it. Which, as Harris says, was neither “civilian” nor “irregular” nor “defensive,” once its mobile strike force was organized.
Thomas E. Ricks is a former contributing editor to Foreign Policy. Twitter: @tomricks1
More from Foreign Policy
Chinese Hospitals Are Housing Another Deadly Outbreak
Authorities are covering up the spread of antibiotic-resistant pneumonia.
Henry Kissinger, Colossus on the World Stage
The late statesman was a master of realpolitik—whom some regarded as a war criminal.
The West’s False Choice in Ukraine
The crossroads is not between war and compromise, but between victory and defeat.
The Masterminds
Washington wants to get tough on China, and the leaders of the House China Committee are in the driver’s seat.
Sign up for World Brief
FP’s flagship evening newsletter guiding you through the most important world stories of the day, written by Alexandra Sharp. Delivered weekdays.
By submitting your email, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and to receive email correspondence from us. You may opt out at any time.