Meet the Godfather of Modern Counterinsurgency

How would the outcome of the Vietnam War differ if we had listened to Edward Lansdale? The world may never know.  

On this episode of The E.R., Max Boot joins us to discuss his new book "The Road Not Taken."
On this episode of The E.R., Max Boot joins us to discuss his new book "The Road Not Taken."
On this episode of The E.R., Max Boot joins us to discuss his new book "The Road Not Taken."

In his latest book, “The Road Not Taken: Edward Lansdale and the American Tragedy in Vietnam,” Boot follows the life of the legendary CIA operative who pioneered the “hearts and mind” strategy of the Vietnam War.  

In his latest book, “The Road Not Taken: Edward Lansdale and the American Tragedy in Vietnam,” Boot follows the life of the legendary CIA operative who pioneered the “hearts and mind” strategy of the Vietnam War.  

In many ways, Edward Lansdale can be considered the godfather of modern counterinsurgency. His ideas have in some respects fallen out of favor, but Boot provides one of the most sweeping authoritative, but also positive histories of Lansdale’s life and legacy.  

Max Boot is a military historian, foreign-policy analyst and author. He also served as an adviser to U.S. commanders in Iraq and Afghanistan and advised both John McCain’s and Mitt Romney’s presidential campaigns and is currently a senior fellow in national security studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. Follow him on Twitter: @MaxBoot 

Keith Johnson is FP’s deputy editor for news. He has been at FP since 2013, after spending 15 years covering terrorism, energy, airlines, politics, foreign affairs, and the economy for the Wall Street Journal. Follow him on Twitter: @KFJ_FP 

Sharon Weinbergeris FP’s executive editor for news. She is the author of The Imagineers of War: The Untold Story of DARPA, the Pentagon Agency That Changed the World. Follow her on Twitter at: @weinbergersa. 

Subscribe to The E.R. on iTunes. 

More from Foreign Policy

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping give a toast during a reception following their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 21.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping give a toast during a reception following their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 21.

Can Russia Get Used to Being China’s Little Brother?

The power dynamic between Beijing and Moscow has switched dramatically.

Xi and Putin shake hands while carrying red folders.
Xi and Putin shake hands while carrying red folders.

Xi and Putin Have the Most Consequential Undeclared Alliance in the World

It’s become more important than Washington’s official alliances today.

Russian President Vladimir Putin greets Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Russian President Vladimir Putin greets Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

It’s a New Great Game. Again.

Across Central Asia, Russia’s brand is tainted by Ukraine, China’s got challenges, and Washington senses another opening.

Kurdish military officers take part in a graduation ceremony in Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, on Jan. 15.
Kurdish military officers take part in a graduation ceremony in Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, on Jan. 15.

Iraqi Kurdistan’s House of Cards Is Collapsing

The region once seemed a bright spot in the disorder unleashed by U.S. regime change. Today, things look bleak.