On AlterNet: counterinsurgency

Stories, blog posts, and videos tagged as "counterinsurgency"

Afghanistan: Obscenely Well-Funded, But Largely Unsuccessful War Rages on Out of Sight of the American Public

Juan Cole, Truthdig. November 18, 2010.

That there has been heavy fighting in Afghanistan this fall would come as a surprise to most Americans. 10 NATO troops were killed this past Saturday and Sunday alone.

U.S. Killing the Very Afghans Who Might Bring About Stability and Reconciliation

Jeremy Scahill, The Nation. November 1, 2010.

In Afghanistan, night raids and targeted killings are strengthening the Taliban and inspiring more people to violently resist U.S. troops.

Surprise -- The Very Dark Side of U.S. History

Peter Dale Scott, Robert Parry, Consortium News. October 8, 2010.

Many Americans view their country and its soldiers as the "good guys" spreading "democracy" and "liberty" around the world. It just ain't so.

The Mythology Surrounding Petraeus' Surge in Iraq Will Keep Us Trapped in Afghanistan

Joshua Holland, AlterNet. June 30, 2010.

The real story of Petraeus' job in Iraq is that he failed to accomplish one of the most crucial tasks of the occupation.

"Are We Going to Keep Winning For 20 Years?": The Insane Reality of the U.S. Mission in Afghanistan

Nir Rosen, Mother Jones. February 23, 2010.

On the front lines of Obama's campaign in Afghanistan, the Taliban are seamlessly embedded within communities, and the cops are stoned.

President Obama's Escalations in Afghanistan Far Exceed Troop Increases Discussed in Campaign

ZP Heller, December 2, 2009.

President Obama's latest escalation exceeds the increase contemplated in his campaign speeches by almost 20,000 troops.

General McChrystal Defines "Success," and Fails

ZP Heller, Brave New Films. September 30, 2009.

Warning: Some graphic images. Gen. Stanley McChrystal told Congress that the measure of success in Afghanistan should be "the number of Afghans shielded from violence." Fail.

Troop Increases Help Drive Spread of the Insurgency in Afghanistan

ZP Heller, Brave New Foundation. September 24, 2009.

The United States added troops in Afghanistan in each of these years. ICOS's maps show that none of these troop increases arrested the growth of the insurgency.

There is no Iraqi insurgency, military experts say

Lindsay Beyerstein, June 17, 2008.

Chaos in post-surge Iraq undercuts rationale for occupation.

Dear Congress: "Pentagon Units in Afghanistan are Operating like South American Death Squads"

The NationJune 8, 2008.

In a letter to Congress, human rights leaders urge Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to stop funding torture in the so-called "war on terror."

King David (Petraeus)

Spencer Ackerman, Huffington Post. May 7, 2008.

Spencer Ackerman profiles the "king" of counter-insurgency theory.

1776: The Greatest Counter-Insurgency Failure Ever

Andrew Exum, Comment Is Free. April 16, 2008.

Would General Petraeus have been able to keep the colonies in the fold?

According to U.S. Military Theory, We Can't Win in Iraq

Kristian Williams, In These Times. March 17, 2007.

Bush's new top commander in Iraq says he thinks the war in Iraq is winnable, but his recent manual on counterinsurgency suggests otherwise.