C. Hurst (Publishers) Limited, 2009 - Afghan War, 2001-- 346 pages. There the peasant, according to VC documents, became “petits bourgeois,” with new lives in commerce. Responding to the review itself, rather than the book (which I have not read). These “accidental guerrillas” are the kind of individuals Kilcullen met in Java, like Mrs. N’s husband, the local imam. Other prominent COIN authorities addressed the principles he stresses years earlier. Reviewed by JANINE di GIOVANNI. It is no coincidence Kilcullen served as the Special Advisor for COIN to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and as General David Petraeus’ COIN advisor. His ideas were linked to the research he did 10 years earlier in the Javanese jungle: the theory that the war on terror has essentially two contrasting aspects. Copyright © 2004-2018 Armchair General L.L.C., All rights reserved. I've been reading Kilcullen's book since last week, when he addressed a class I was attending at the National Foreign Affairs Training Center. He earned a doctorate in politics from New South Wales University; his thesis was entitled, “The Political Consequences of Military Operations in Indonesia 1945–99: A Fieldwork Analysis of the Power-Diffusion Effects of Guerrilla Conflict.” Militarily, he served for twenty-plus years (retiring in 2006) as an infantry officer in the Australian Army. The most extensive sections of his book concentrate, naturally, on Iraq and Afghanistan (which he still sees as “winnable” with a long-term commitment), but his analysis leads him as well to smaller movements in such places as Chechnya, Thailand, Indonesia and the Horn of Africa. For starters, this is a good description of the difference between counterterrorism and counterinsurgency. No one listened. I would like to point out a weakness in current thought among those who claim to “get it” on COIN. . This is why many insurgent groups engage in acts of terrorism – killing innocent people in marketplaces, on buses, or on trains. “It’s going to take a lot more than you seem to be willing to commit,” he told the Americans. His work in Iraq and Afghanistan involved much on-the-ground fact-­gathering — meeting with the people rather than locking himself in the Green Zone. I was a little nonplussed by Andrew Bacevich's review of my recent book, The Accidental Guerrilla (Oxford University Press, 2009). The Accidental Guerrilla has an anthropologist's sense of social dynamics and a reporter's eye for telling detail. If instead our troops were to play a passive protective role, rather than massacre civilians blindly, USAID could, as did CORDS in South Vietnam, create an urban settings where youth and women could take refuge, slowly draining the rural “sea” (in which swim the Taliban) with industry and commerce. “When the battle was right there in front of them, how could they not join in?” Kilcullen writes. Accidental American Accidentally Rediscovers Old Knowledge. After reading The Accidental Guerrilla, one is left to wonder why the Pentagon did not listen to his sage advice back in 2003." A Senior Counterinsurgency Advisor to General David Petraeus, Kilcullen's vision of war dramatically influenced America's decision to rethink its military strategy in Iraq. Perhaps, the best and most obvious place to begin a review of Guerrilla is with the title. Save this story for later. June 21, 2009. 2 Reviews. But not always. 4.5 out of 5 stars 125 ratings. I found the most provocative portion of his discussion on Iraq was his assessment on why operations in the country are so challenging. --Fareed Zakaria, Newsweek That said, it IS certainly true that the COUNTERinsurgent requires widespread public support. Just as importantly, it will provide readers with the background they need to understand the events of the future and the role of the accidental guerrilla. to the government. --New York Times Book Review From the Author David Kilcullen is one of the world's foremost thinkers on counterinsurgency and military strategy. How does the initiation process of the accidental guerrilla happen? That is often times true. The Accidental Guerrilla Fighting Small Wars in the Midst of a Big One. He emphatically states, “Enemy-centric approaches that focus on the enemy, assuming that killing insurgents is the key task, rarely succeed. 4.0 out of 5 stars The Accidental Guerilla - Small Wars Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2012 This book is one of the must read although I do not entirely with one of the principles. Email Print 0 Shares. They provide nothing of value to those exposed willingly or unwillingly to their views. However, Kilcullen’s ability to intertwine analogies and place these principles in a different light will take these knowledgeable readers to the next step in their overall understanding of COIN. The Accidental Guerrilla has an anthropologist's sense of social dynamics and a reporter's eye for telling detail. But instead we have been feeding corruption blindly as in Iraq. This service included various assignments involved in COIN and guerrilla warfare, with deployments in East Timor, Bougainville, and the Middle East. Taliban did not do 9/11 and will not do the next. As Bracevich points out in NATIONAL INTEREST, there is here the sound of an interested party whose career depends on the US trapped in endless COIN ops. --New York Times Book Review "Kilcullen's compelling argument merits wide attention." David Kilcullen is a former officer in the Australian Army, a strategist and a scholar. Lawrence evoked the means of waging irregular warfare in his 1926 classic, Seven Pillars of Wisdom, Mr Kilcullen describes the practitioner's art of combating insurgents. David Kilcullen is a former officer in the Australian Army, a strategist and a scholar. The Accidental Guerrilla: 9781849047111: Books - Amazon.ca. In my view, the conflict remains winnable, but the overall trend is extremely negative and a concerted long-term effort is needed—lasting 5-10 years at least—if we are to have any chance of building a resilient Afghan state and civil society that can defeat the threat from a resurgent Taliban and an increasingly active sanctuary in Pakistan.”. One of the larger mistakes America has made in its handling of the Long War against Al Qaeda was ignoring the details of small conflicts that are so important to Kilcullen. It’s best when Kilcullen uses narrative to recount his personal experiences. Just as importantly, it will provide readers with the background they need to understand the events of the future and the role of the accidental guerrilla. Free trial available! “This was the most exciting thing that had happened in their valley in years. To this end, the counterinsurgent would do well to concentrate on providing civil security – the most basic responsibility of government and deeply linked to legitimacy. Save this story for later. --Publishers Weekly Starred Review If T.E. After reading The Accidental Guerrilla, one is left to wonder why the pentagon did not listen to his sage advice back in 2003.’ — New York Times Book Review With The Accidental Guerrilla, Kilcullen brings forth a far more thorough analysis of this threat and the steps the US and its allies must take to meet it effectively. And with patience and cunning, he built up the knowledge he needed. Book Review: The Accidental Guerrilla The Accidental Guerrilla. David Kilcullen opens his book with the following statement: “This book, like its wars, is a hybrid: part field study, part personnel recollection; perhaps too academic to be popular and too populist to be purely academic.” I believe Kilcullen has achieved the right blend of populist and academic. If T.E. Ditto for Pakistan. His book is an attempt to understand the global phenomenon of radical takfiri extremism/terrorism, explain what has worked in Afghanistan and Iraq … The Accidental Guerrilla: Fighting Small Wars in the Midst of a Big One by David Kilcullen. David Kilcullen. But the Vietnam lesson is fogotten. In some cases the insurgent may seek to take power in a coalition overthrow (Iran, 1979), and then eliminate its weaker partners to consolidate power. 5.0 • 1 valoración; $11.99; $11.99; Descripción de la editorial. This called for a war that, according to Hanoi’s Communist Party history was totally won by DRV regulars because the VC was no more than an “anoyance” to Saigon. Skip to main content.ca. In “The Accidental Guerrilla,” Kilcullen draws on his vast experience not only as a dedicated field researcher, but also as a soldier — he commanded an infantry company in counterinsurgency operations in East Timor in 1999. Oxford University Press, Mar 16, 2009 - Political Science - 384 pages. In fact, he is considered in several circles to be today’s foremost authority in COIN and GW. Kilcullen believes that to succeed, the West needs to remain agile, and to protect the people who support the government, what he calls “population-centric security.” “Effective counterinsurgency,” he writes, “provides human security to the population, where they live, 24 hours a day. Rick Baillergeon co-authors with John Sutherland the continuing monthly series Tactics 101 for ArmchairGeneral.com. “This book, like its wars, is a hybrid: part field study, part personnel recollection; perhaps too academic to be popular and too populist to be purely academic.”. In reference to this strategy he states, “The ideas are not new; implementing them effectively would be.” I would suggest that Kilcullen’s ability to articulate this strategy in a succinct five pages is new. For those not willing to put in the time and effort, reading “The Accidental Guerrilla” could be like a junior high school student’s attempting “Ulysses.”. After reading “The Accidental Guerrilla,” one is left to wonder why the Pentagon did not listen to his sage advice back in 2003, instead of that of all those cheery optimists who predicted the Iraqis would greet the American forces with flowers. Washington was focused on the big picture — Al Qaeda. What Kilcullen wanted to do was to observe the movement the way the locals did — not from the “official version I could find in books.” So he lived in vil­lages and conversed with his curious neighbors about blue jeans and the Internet, until they trusted him enough to share ­information. The Accidental Guerrilla: Fighting Small Wars in the Midst of a Big One. Your email address will not be published. Hello Select your address Books Hello, Sign in. He is adamant the Iraq War was a serious strategic error; however, he is just as resolute that forces must now stay until the mission is complete. However, assuming that popular support is zero-sum and thinking that because the insurgent lacks the support of the people that you, as the counterinsurgent, necessarily have gained it is deadly wrong. His numerous COIN-related articles and papers have embraced, particularly by the United States military. In Iraq, “shoxk&awe” reached the point of criminal, given our intel blind, language deaf and culture dumb invasion. I believe most readers will find Kilcullen’s treatment of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars both extremely valuable and explored in a unique perspective. First, some may find Kilcullen’s writing in the early stages of the book a bit too academic for them and they may lose interest in the book. Although the author covers several distinct areas in detail, they all revolve around his theory of what he calls the accidental guerrilla. Some insurgencies can achieve most of their goals by creating a situation that is so utterly intolerable to their opponents that anything would seem preferable to the conditions created by the insurgent. Discover The Accidental Guerrilla as it's meant to be heard, narrated by Peter Ganim. Account & Lists Account Returns & Orders. Ignorance and Ideology Meet at the Capitol, Hungary’s Wartime Leader Struck a Faustian Deal With Hitler, Online Exclusive: Ram the Yankees, Full Speed Ahead. Unfortunately, many of these "pundits" have managed to carve out niches in various forms of media. Book Review: The Accidental Guerrilla “The Accidental Guerrilla” is not an easy book. I had seen some pretty high-power reviews of David Kilcullen’s The Accidental Guerrilla: Fighting Small Wars in the Midst of a Big One start popping up, then a co-worker who’s acknowledged in the book’s Acknowledgements lent me her copy. “The Accidental Guerrilla” is not an easy book. The VC were doing fine because, as in Iraq/Afghan efforts, career officers depended on being action-Jackson but since it had to be with low casualties, thy prepaired the ops terrain by stralizing it with ordnance, destroying all protein on it.. While there is no question of my complete satisfaction with this book, I should provide some words of caution for prospective readers. Kilcullen’s later observations in Iraq led to his conclusion that America has not responded wisely to global terrorism. By George Packe r. May 12, 2009 . : David Kilcullen. The other, though largely ignored, is equally crucial: the uprisings of local networks and fighters. The author is an accidental American given access to top secret information and inner circles much more appropriate to Ralph … It will greatly assist readers in understanding the past. And that's not all; the book has many more insights drawn from various battlefields." Lawrence, Frank Kitson, or Sir Robert Thompson will be quite familiar with these principles. To see Kilcullen’s theory at work, you need only to look at the Swat region of northern Pakistan. While I … It would have shamed them to stand by and wait it out, they said.”. Your email address will not be published. So maybe it would be best to let the Shanghai Accord states that includes all its neighbors, including Russia, China, Iran, Pakistan, India and Central Asian states, deal with Taliban and we just leave. The Accidental Guerrilla has an anthropologist's sense of social dynamics and a reporter's eye for telling detail. Even if you’re not deeply interested in the ins and outs of counter-insurgency theory, it’s likely that you’ll enjoy Accidental Guerrilla. Such a strategy does not require widespread public support so much as it requires a lack of a unified, determined foe. Tags . Very, very interesting. These are small insurgencies seeking autonomy that align themselves intentionally (or sometimes not) with the larger movement. I recommend digesting Kilcullen’s information one chapter at a time. However, an enemy-centric approach that neglects the population can very well result in the population being swayed by the insurgents, through propaganda and/or intimidation, and the end result of this is the creation of the accidental guerrilla. David Kilcullen. First, one must consider the goals of the insurgent, then the insurgent’s strategy (which is not the same thing as his tactics, though his tactics are driven by his strategy). That is why, personally, I (and many others) have been anxiously awaiting the release of his first book, The Accidental Guerrilla. Kilcullen likens it to a disease. A militiaman in Najaf, Iraq, firing toward American positions, in 2004. If T.E. What is distinctive is Kilcullen’s approach, which articulates the concept in an understandable way and breaks it down into the simplest of terms. The Accidental Guerrilla: Fighting Small Wars in the Midst of a Big One: Amazon.de: Kilcullen, David: Fremdsprachige Bücher Lawrence evoked the means of waging irregular warfare in his 1926 classic, 'Seven Pillars of Wisdom', … Oxford University Press, 2009, Hardback, 346 pages. David Kilcullen. Just as carpenters insist we need more nails and boards banged together, the COIN guys insist we need more Cion warfare– for Afghan case alone they want another decade. Sunday, July 5, 2009. Required fields are marked *, Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. These all have to be done at the same time, in the same place, and changes in one part of the problem significantly affect the others.”, In terms of the future of Afghanistan, Kilcullen is not overly optimistic. When outside forces intervene, disrupting the safe haven, the local population aligns with Al Qaeda. Posted on May 5, 2009 in Books and Movies. The Accidental Guerrilla by David Kilcullen, 9781849047111, available at Book Depository with free delivery worldwide. Contagion occurs when the safe haven is used to spread violence. Cart All. Readers well-versed in COIN doctrine and principles may not obtain any significant nuggets to add to their understanding of the subject. Similar Items. It will greatly assist readers in understanding the past. David Kilcullen. Kilcullen skillfully interprets the future of counterinsurgency, the proper use of military force and what we must learn from our losses and mistakes. In the Accidental Guerilla he attempts to draw together lessons from his experiences ranging from studying in rural Indonesia (where he encounters likely Al-Qaeda affiliates who are definitely ethnic Arab and not local) to long tours in both Afghanistan and Iraq. He quotes a colonel in Afghanistan: “You can drill a well in a day, and build a school in a month, . Kilcullen provides his recommendations on how to achieve this mission: the solution must be population-centric not enemy-centric. Throughout the volume, Kilcullen displays a rare ability to take the complicated and place it in straightforward terms. Later, Kilcullen went on to advise Condoleezza Rice and helped Gen. David Petraeus implement the 2007 surge — which, up to a point, he believes has been successful, largely because of his friend Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker. Despite the pessimistic tone, Kilcullen provides readers with a concise, yet comprehensive strategy on what to do next in Afghanistan. 1 Review. Now in Afghanistan we get the benefit of Kilcullen’s once-quick-thru trips and the advice of one year tours from sililarly intel blind, language deaf, culture dumb officers. He is also an expert on counterinsurgency, or how to combat a rebellion, and one of the few brave souls who had the ear of people in the Bush White House and advised against the invasion of Iraq. In total, he has a truly impressive resume for the authorship of his first book, The Accidental Guerrilla. The Accidental Guerrilla: Fighting Small Wars in the Midst of a Big One Audible Audiobook – Unabridged. As a result,the people perceive that government has failed to meet its primary obligation to the governed: Civil security. The Accidental Guerrilla Fighting Small Wars in the Midst of a Big One Oxford University Press . Second, readers who like to complete books in one or two sittings will find that nearly impossible with The Accidental Guerrilla. Oxford University Press, 2009, 384 pp. Then, he becomes a military adventurer, a modern Fitzroy MacLean: wandering through volcanic jungles; or flying in a Blackhawk over northwest Baghdad when an improvised explosive device detonates on the ground below, nearly plunging him to his death. Kilcullen skillfully interprets the future of counterinsurgency, the proper use of military force and what we must learn from our losses and mistakes. The Accidental Guerrilla Reviewed The Complex Terrain Laboratory website has has a good review of David Kilcullen's new book, The Accidental Guerrilla: Fighting Small Wars in the Midst of a Big One. Or the villagers in Uruzgan, Afghanistan, who joined the Taliban in a 2006 offensive against an American patrol simply for the joy of fighting. The Accidental Guerrilla. There, our “Better War” towards the end almost won because, while in the begininig the VC were fish swimming in a sea of willing peasants, our ordnance mania made them all refugees to the cities, turning South vietnam from 85% rural to 75% urban. . Since his retirement from the Australian Army, Kilcullen’s reputation has escalated within the United States and the military community. Even so, this book is essential. He is also an expert on counterinsurgency, or how to combat a rebellion, and one of the few brave souls who had the ear of people in the Bush White House and advised against the invasion of Iraq. Based on field experiences and his extensive research, he believes this is the concept that essentially determines the outcome of any insurgency or counterinsurgency. 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