The Accidental Guerrilla: Fighting Small Wars in the Midst of a Big OneDavid Kilcullen is one of the world's most influential experts on counterinsurgency and modern warfare, a ground-breaking theorist whose ideas "are revolutionizing military thinking throughout the west" (Washington Post). Indeed, his vision of modern warfare powerfully influenced America's decision to rethink its military strategy in Iraq and implement "the Surge," now recognized as a dramatic success. In The Accidental Guerrilla, Kilcullen provides a remarkably fresh perspective on the War on Terror. Kilcullen takes us "on the ground" to uncover the face of modern warfare, illuminating both the big global war (the "War on Terrorism") and its relation to the associated "small wars" across the globe: Iraq, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Thailand, the Pakistani tribal zones, East Timor and the horn of Africa. Kilcullen sees today's conflicts as a complex interweaving of contrasting trends--local insurgencies seeking autonomy caught up in a broader pan-Islamic campaign--small wars in the midst of a big one. He warns that America's actions in the war on terrorism have tended to conflate these trends, blurring the distinction between local and global struggles and thus enormously complicating our challenges. Indeed, the US had done a poor job of applying different tactics to these very different situations, continually misidentifying insurgents with limited aims and legitimate grievances--whom he calls "accidental guerrillas"--as part of a coordinated worldwide terror network. We must learn how to disentangle these strands, develop strategies that deal with global threats, avoid local conflicts where possible, and win them where necessary. Colored with gripping battlefield experiences that range from the jungles and highlands of Southeast Asia to the mountains of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border to the dusty towns of the Middle East, The Accidental Guerrilla will, quite simply, change the way we think about war. This book is a must read for everyone concerned about the war on terror. |
Contents
| 1 | |
Afghanistan 20062008 | 39 |
Iraq during the Surge 2007 | 115 |
Conflicts from Indonesia to Europe | 186 |
Beyond the War on Terrorism | 263 |
Other editions - View all
The Accidental Guerrilla: Fighting Small Wars in the Midst of a Big One David Kilcullen Limited preview - 2009 |
The Accidental Guerrilla: Fighting Small Wars in the Midst of a Big One David Kilcullen Limited preview - 2011 |
Common terms and phrases
accidental guerrilla syndrome activity Afghan Afghanistan allies American approach army Asadabad attacks backlash Baghdad Balibo building campaign Cavoli civil civilian Coalition forces combat commanders conflict counterinsurgency counterterrorism countries create cultural defense discussed district East Timor effective effort enemy environment example exploit extremely extremists FATA Field notes Fieldnotes fight fighters foreign Frontier global groups hybrid warfare Indonesian insurgency intelligence INTERFET International Crisis Group intervention intimidation Iraq Iraqi Islam Kilcullen killed Kunar Kunar Province Kunar valley leadership major military militia movement Muslim networks officers operations Pakistan Pashtun percent Petraeus police political population presence problem propaganda Province Qa’ida regional religious response road role sectarian security forces sheikh Shi’a society southern Thailand strategy subversion Sunni Surge tactics takfiri Taliban target terrorism terrorist threat Timorese tion today’s traditional tribal leaders tribes troops United valley village violence War on Terrorism Western