Can We Learn From Old Insurgencies?

MAJ Ken Landgren — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 17:03:30 -0500

Can we find diamonds in the rough if we compare old insurgencies to contemporary insurgencies?

Response by CSM Carl Cunningham made Nov 12 at 2015 5:05 PM

CSM Carl Cunningham — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 17:05:05 -0500

I bet we could. The United States was born from an excellent insurgency.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Nov 12 at 2015 5:21 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 17:21:30 -0500

I should give this some framework. Mao listed the steps to successful insurgencies.
1. A group of elites in society will commune to start a movement.
2. The build a conclave of cadre who are firm believers.
3. The cadre recruit for the cause and provide essential services, and essentially acts governmental.
4. They commit to asymmetric warfare.
5. The insurgencies grow into a conventional army.
6. The insurgent army defeats the counterinsurgent army.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 12 at 2015 5:24 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 17:24:13 -0500

While the US Military was pretty much born in insurgency, it seems we have a hard time learning from our own history in regards to effectively countering it with others.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 12 at 2015 9:00 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 21:00:09 -0500

One of the differences between Mao's pattern and what we see today, is the "root." The insurgencies we are fighting today are all grassroots. They are not based on an outside idea (communism), but based on the concept that their culture is being oppressed. I believe that the latter is MUCH harder to counteract. In fact I chuckle at the shallow online COIN lessons I've been forced to take. There is much more to changing peoples minds than giving them infrastructure, security, and enhancing "host nation government legitimacy."

This is my enlisted opinion, and probably not worth the ink it wasn't written with. I don't really care, because I'm a soldier, not a policy maker, and I don't intend to change.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Feb 4 at 2016 7:12 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 19:12:10 -0500

I seems like successful insurgencies have the local populace supporting the insurgents.