A Question of Command: Counterinsurgency from the Civil War to Iraq (Yale Library of Military History)

According to the prevailing view of counterinsurgency, the key to defeating insurgents is selecting methods that will win the people’s hearts and minds. The hearts-and-minds theory permeates not only most counterinsurgency books of the twenty-first century but the U.S. Army/Marine Corps Counterinsurgency Field Manual, the U.S. military’s foremost text on counterinsurgency. Mark Moyar assails this conventional wisdom, asserting that the key to counterinsurgency is selecting commanders who have superior leadership abilities. Whereas the hearts-and-minds school recommends allocating much labor and treasure to economic, social, and political reforms, Moyar advocates concentrating resources on security, civil administration, and leadership development.Moyar presents a wide-ranging history of counterinsurgency, from the Civil War and Reconstruction to Afghanistan and Iraq, that draws on the historical record and interviews with hundreds of counterinsurgency veterans, including top leaders in today’s armed forces. Through a series of case studies, Moyar identifies the ten critical attributes of counterinsurgency leadership and reveals why these attributes have been much more prevalent in some organizations than others. He explains how the U.S. military and America’s allies in Afghanistan and Iraq should revamp their personnel systems in order to elevate more individuals with those attributes.A Question of Command will reshape the study and practice of counterinsurgency warfare. With counterinsurgency now one of the most pressing issues facing the United States, this book is a must-read for policymakers, military officers, and citizens. (20090901)

according To The Prevailing View Of Counterinsurgency, The Key To Defeating Insurgents Is Selecting Methods That Will Win The People’s Hearts And Minds. The Hearts-and-minds Theory Permeates Not Only Most Counterinsurgency Books Of The Twenty-first Century But  the u.s. Army/marine Corps Counterinsurgency Field Manual, The U.s. Military’s Foremost Text On Counterinsurgency. Mark Moyar Assails This Conventional Wisdom, Asserting That The Key To Counterinsurgency Is Selecting Commanders Who Have Superior Leadership Abilities. Whereas The Hearts-and-minds School Recommends Allocating Much Labor And Treasure To Economic, Social, And Political Reforms, Moyar Advocates Concentrating Resources On Security, Civil Administration, And Leadership Development.

 

moyar Presents A Wide-ranging History Of Counterinsurgency, From The Civil War And Reconstruction To Afghanistan And Iraq, That Draws On The Historical Record And Interviews With Hundreds Of Counterinsurgency Veterans, Including Top Leaders In Today’s Armed Forces. Through A Series Of Case Studies, Moyar Identifies The Ten Critical Attributes Of Counterinsurgency Leadership And Reveals Why These Attributes Have Been Much More Prevalent In Some Organizations Than Others. He Explains How The U.s. Military And America’s Allies In Afghanistan And Iraq Should Revamp Their Personnel Systems In Order To Elevate More Individuals With Those Attributes.

 

a Question Of Command Will Reshape The Study And Practice Of Counterinsurgency Warfare. With Counterinsurgency Now One Of The Most Pressing Issues Facing The United States, This Book Is A Must-read For Policymakers, Military Officers, And Citizens.

the Washington Post - Eliot A. Cohen

…this Brilliant Young Scholar Of The Vietnam War Reminds Us That It Takes A Special Kind Of Soldier—reflective, Patient, Creative—to Lead Counterinsurgency Operations.

According To The Prevailing View Of Counterinsurgency, The Key To Defeating Insurgents Is Selecting Methods That Will Win The People's Hearts And Minds. The Hearts-and-minds Theory Permeates Not Only Most Counterinsurgency Books Of The Twenty-first Century But The U.s. Army/marine Corps Counterinsurgency Field Manual, The U.s. Military's Foremost Text On Counterinsurgency. Mark Moyar Assails This Conventional Wisdom, Asserting That The Key To Counterinsurgency Is Selecting Commanders Who Have Superior Leadership Abilities. Whereas The Hearts-and-minds School Recommends Allocating Much Labor And Treasure To Economic, Social, And Political Reforms, Moyar Advocates Concentrating Resources On Security, Civil Administration, And Leadership Development. Moyar Presents A Wide-ranging History Of Counterinsurgency, From The Civil War And Reconstruction To Afghanistan And Iraq, That Draws On The Historical Record And Interviews With Hundreds Of Counterinsurgency Veterans, Including Top Leaders In Today's Armed Forces. Through A Series Of Case Studies, Moyar Identifies The Ten Critical Attributes Of Counterinsurgency Leadership And Reveals Why These Attributes Have Been Much More Prevalent In Some Organizations Than Others. He Explains How The U.s. Military And America's Allies In Afghanistan And Iraq Should Revamp Their Personnel Systems In Order To Elevate More Individuals With Those Attributes.--jacket. Leader-centric Warfare -- The Civil War -- Reconstruction In The South -- The Philippine Insurrection -- The Huk Rebellion -- The Malayan Emergency -- The Vietnam War -- The Salvadoran Insurgency -- The War In Afghanistan -- The Iraq War -- How To Win. Mark Moyar ; Foreword By Donald Kagan And Frederick Kagan. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. According to the prevailing view of counterinsurgency, the key to defeating insurgents is selecting methods that will win the peoples hearts and minds. The hearts-and-minds theory permeates not only most counterinsurgency books of the twenty-first century but the U.S. Army/Marine Corps Counterinsurgency Field Manual, the U.S. militarys foremost text on counterinsurgency. Mark Moyar assails this conventional wisdom, asserting that the key to counterinsurgency is selecting commanders who have superior leadership abilities. Whereas the hearts-and-minds school recommends allocating much labor and treasure to economic, social, and political reforms, Moyar advocates concentrating resources on security, civil administration, and leadership development. Moyar presents a wide-ranging history of counterinsurgency, from the Civil War and Reconstruction to Afghanistan and Iraq, that draws on the historical record and interviews with hundreds of counterinsurgency veterans, including top leaders in todays armed forces. Through a series of case studies, Moyar identifies the ten critical attributes of counterinsurgency leadership and reveals why these attributes have been much more prevalent in some organizations than others. He explains how the U.S. military and Americas allies in Afghanistan and Iraq should revamp their personnel systems in order to elevate more individuals with those attributes. A Question of Command will reshape the study and practice of counterinsurgency warfare. With counterinsurgency now one of the most pressing issues facing the United States, this book is a must-read for policymakers, military officers, and citizens. "According to the prevailing view of counterinsurgency, the key to defeating insurgents is selecting methods that will win the people's hearts and minds. The hearts-and-minds theory permeates not only most counterinsurgency books of the twenty-first century but the U.S. Army/Marine Corps Counterinsurgency Field Manual, the U.S. military's foremost text on counterinsurgency. Mark Moyar assails this conventional wisdom, asserting that the key to counterinsurgency is selecting commanders who have superior leadership abilities. Whereas the hearts-and-minds school recommends allocating much labor and treasure to economic, social, and political reforms, Moyar advocates concentrating resources on security, civil administration, and leadership development. Moyar presents a wide-ranging history of counterinsurgency, from the Civil War and Reconstruction to Afghanistan and Iraq, that draws on the historical record and interviews with hundreds of counterinsurgency veterans, including top leaders in today's armed forces. Through a series of case studies, Moyar identifies the ten critical attributes of counterinsurgency leadership and reveals why these attributes have been much more prevalent in some organizations than others. He explains how the U.S. military and America's allies in Afghanistan and Iraq should revamp their personnel systems in order to elevate more individuals with those attributes."--book jacket Contents......Page 8 Foreword......Page 10 Preface......Page 14 Acknowledgments......Page 16 1. Leader-Centric Warfare......Page 22 2. The Civil War......Page 36 3. Reconstruction in the South......Page 54 4. The Philippine Insurrection......Page 84 5. The Huk Rebellion......Page 110 6. The Malayan Emergency......Page 130 7. The Vietnam War......Page 170 8. The Salvadoran Insurgency......Page 206 9. The War in Afghanistan......Page 228 10. The Iraq War......Page 250 11. How to Win......Page 296 Appendix: Counterinsurgency Leadership Survey......Page 324 Notes......Page 340 Select Bibliography......Page 370 B......Page 376 C......Page 377 E......Page 378 I......Page 379 L......Page 380 P......Page 381 S......Page 382 V......Page 383 Y......Page 384 Illustrations......Page 146 Contents 8 Foreword 10 Preface 14 Acknowledgments 16 1. Leader-Centric Warfare 22 2. The Civil War 36 3. Reconstruction in the South 54 4. The Philippine Insurrection 84 5. The Huk Rebellion 110 6. The Malayan Emergency 130 7. The Vietnam War 170 8. The Salvadoran Insurgency 206 9. The War in Afghanistan 228 10. The Iraq War 250 11. How to Win 296 Appendix: Counterinsurgency Leadership Survey 324 Notes 340 Select Bibliography 370 Index 376 A 376 B 376 C 377 D 378 E 378 F 379 G 379 H 379 I 379 J 380 K 380 L 380 M 381 N 381 O 381 P 381 Q 382 R 382 S 382 T 383 U 383 V 383 W 384 Y 384 Illustrations 146 0300152760,9780300152760,0300168071,9780300168075 Yale University Press Moyar presents a wide-ranging history of counterinsurgency which draws on the historical record and interviews with hundreds of counterinsurgency veterans. He identifies the ten critical attributes of counterinsurgency leadership and reveals why these attributes have been more prevalent in some organizations than others Argues that the key to counterinsurgency is not winning the people's popularity but selecting commanders with superior leadership abilities and concentrating resources on security, civil administration, and leadership development.