reviews
May 14, 2007
Daniel
rated it: 
A great book, and a phenomenal update on the manual. Petraeus fully deserves his reputation. Not a ripping yarn, of course... but incorporates well and surprisingly concisely a lot of recent research on insurgencies, including all-too-rare discussions of the importance of information operations (e.g., media), overall strategic planning, and network analysis. My only quibble is that the network analysis appendix focuses almost exclusively on intelligence-gathering, and does not discuss potenti
More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jan 07, 2012
Anthony
rated it: 
A must read for anyone in the military or any civilian trying to understand the complexities of counterinsurgency. I enjoyed the introductions from well respected military and non-military experts on this topic. These quickly seek to introduce a new way of thinking and analysing an old tactic of war in the modern era. The chapters referencing the paradoxes of counterinsurgency warfare are the most useful and each interesting bullet makes the reader really think about the problems at hand and
More...
Oct 12, 2009
Steven
rated it:
The context for this important work (John Nagl's Foreword, Page xiii): ". . .the sad fact is that when an insurgency began in Iraq in the late summer of 2003, the Army was unprepared to fight it." In the "Introduction," Sarah Sewall observes the critical point of counterinsurgency (COIN) (Page xxiii):
". . .although it is military doctrine, the field manual emphasizes the multiple dimensions of COIN: `those military, paramilitary, political, economic, psychol More...
". . .although it is military doctrine, the field manual emphasizes the multiple dimensions of COIN: `those military, paramilitary, political, economic, psychol More...
Aug 16, 2009
OK, this is very geeky. I did some academic study of counter-insurgency as part of my War Studies course back in 1979, and I've read one or two things since then. I picked this up in the US on our recent trip.
Co-authored by General Patraeus (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Petra...) this book is the 'official' US Army and Marine Corps doctrine for counter-insurgency. Whether the US Army and Marine Corps can implement it fully is a major question, because it requires rather differen More...
Co-authored by General Patraeus (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Petra...) this book is the 'official' US Army and Marine Corps doctrine for counter-insurgency. Whether the US Army and Marine Corps can implement it fully is a major question, because it requires rather differen More...
Jun 18, 2008
Shawn
rated it: 
Fascinating sections on social network analysis but the veterans know some things can't be learned from a manual. In the back of my mind, military manuals marketed as mainstream bestsellers seems sanitized for public consumption and to avoid political fallout. FM 31-20-3 (Foreign Internal Defense Tactics) from 1994 has a more cynical and in my opinion, realistic view of occupation and guerrilla psychology. Moreover, manuals are by their very nature abstract and concepts and theories need to be b
More...
Jul 06, 2009
Sean
rated it:
The COIN-FM is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand what winning the current conflict entails. As a social scientist, I found its social-psychological/sociological insights profound.
Jan 08, 2009
Dennis
rated it:
Interesting view on the topic. Was curious why we are making the choice we make in Iraq and Afgan. in the GWOT. Interesting if you are interested in this type of thing.
Nov 16, 2009
kislam
rated it:
Excellent coverage of the fundamentals of counterinsurgency, from IPB to conducting operations to applications of force multipliers.
Dec 09, 2008
Adam
rated it:
One of the better political campaign manuals for strategy and field in heavily Republican held districts.
Apr 14, 2010
Lola
rated it: 
This is the most ridiculous & blatant disregaurd for troop & public welfare. Who in their right mind would ever release to the general public one's own methods for combating insurgency real time, boast the amount of downloads & discovery of the manual in two al-Qaeda training camps. Giving away tactics so freely is an insult to military personnel and one's enemy. American arrogance at its best from publication to distribution, not to mention the actual content...go ahead, read it & judge for
More...
Jan 24, 2008
Bale
rated it:
A must-read for anyone making decisions on today's battlefield. The work put in by the team of writers and tacticians to develop this manual is truly reamarkable. Not only for combat leaders or historians, this manual (while a tough read) is an excellent tool for people not "in the arena" to build a knowledge foundation to the increasing demands of todays twenty-somethings leading men into adversity.
Dec 17, 2009
Jared
rated it:
I prefer Galula's COIN (counterinsurgency) Warfare, however this manual was still interesting. It's light on specifics, but due to the nature of COIN this is to be expected, for me I found the appendices to be the most useful. If you are looking for a great introduction to COIN and something to set your framework, then this is it. If you're looking for specifics, head straight to the appendices.
Jun 05, 2011
Dr.
rated it:
So far this book has my head spinning. As much as this is a manual for effective counterinsurgency operations it also lays out a solid framework for understanding how effective insurgencies operate. The writing is very down to earth and easy to swallow. Like the back of the book says: If the presdient and vice president have this book on their bedside table, why don't you?
May 15, 2010
Brian
rated it:
Everyone, or at least anyone who thinks of himself as an engaged citizen, ought to at least read the introduction. It's not exactly a riveting narrative, but the manual isn't hard to understand and there is a glossary in the back if you don't know the difference between an AO and an HN. The annotated bibliography should keep me busy for a few years.
Aug 23, 2007
Archana
rated it:
This book is amazing, especially the many forewards and introductions (not all by military people). You will not regret reading it - opened my eyes to the change in the world happening right now, moving from traditional warfare to counterinsurgency operations...
Jul 24, 2008
Weloytty
rated it:
David Petraeus should be listed as an author of this book, it's one of the reasons he got put in command of the Iraq War. It's not bad reading either, and well worth your time if you're interested in how the war in Iraq is being fought.
Apr 01, 2008
Wendy
rated it:
If you vote, you should read this book. If you are interested in how to restructure the way we handle our military budgets, and what our current military really needs(guess what, it isn't more nuclear subs) then you should read this book.
Dec 17, 2010
Ryan
rated it:
Important for a number of reasons, but not the panacea for counterinsurgency some think it is. Make sure to read David Kilcullen's "Counter-insurgency Redux" and Frank Hoffman's "Neo-Classical Counterinsurgency?" if studying this book.
Dec 24, 2009
One of the books I read for business. Pretty decent, an improvement over the previous edition.
Feb 03, 2012
Feb 03, 2012
