A Question of Command: Counterinsurgency from the Civil War to Iraq

by Mark Moyar, Donald Kagan (Foreword), Frederick W. Kagan (Foreword)

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.

Genres: History, Military Fiction, Military History, War, Nonfiction, Leadership

368 pages, Hardcover

First published October 20, 2009

Reviews

[Robert Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought the historical case studies were mostly on point to carry the main argument, which is leadership is the key to counterinsurgency. I wouldn't endorse overly dogmatic application of attributes or personality tests, but rather suggest working with the personnel you do have and using principles defined and developed as objectively as any group of students can reasonably do. My key takeaways here are the unification of civil and military command under one hat, preferably military; maintaining good governance, even with your foreign imperial officers rather than jumping straight into self-governance for the sake of surface-level sovereign appeal; and, military action and defeating the insurgents, especially by reducing their ability to mass concentrated forces, is worth far much in blood and treasure than trying to roll out civil activities in the socio-economic spheres before you have secured the physical realities that good arms and laws are meant to convey. I liked the book overall and do recommend it if you like historical case studies, nine in this case, with a thematic through-line, leader-centric warfare here.

[Joseph Stieb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moyar presents a somewhat revisionist account of the history of American counterinsurgency campaigns. His individual chapters are very interesting, especially the ones about Iraq and Afghanistan. His basic argument is that FM 3-24 and its main proponents have not adequately appreciated the importance of leadership in successful counterinsurgency. The idea that leadership is the most important factor, however, misses the point that good leaders still need a good strategy, something that FM 3-24 provides. A good leader will vigorously and sensitively put into practice the basic tenets of population security, civil administration, and winning hearts and minds. Moyar's argument would be more successful if he portrayed himself as a complement to FM-3-24's advocates rather than a challenger. Nevertheless, this is a useful and interesting book that does convincingly show the critical need for a particular kind of innovative leader in counterinsurgency, especially in native armies. 301 pages.

[Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very worthwhile read. I was skeptical of the basic premise of this book until half way through; i.e. that having the right leaders is more important to success in COIN operations than applying COIN principles. Although there are gaps in his analysis of nine different insurgencies, his points on successful leadership are well supported. In counterinsurgency fights, leadership crosses multiple fronts - the host nation government & security forces, the insurgents, and the foreign forces. Mark Moyer proposes 10 leadership traits that characterize successful leaders in counterinsurgencies that are worth noting - both for leader training and selection.

[Grey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit hard to read -- deep non-fiction -- but well worth the effort. Cogent and understandable analysis of the reasons for success or failure in COIN over the past 200 years, but best yet are the lessons learned and recommendations that come at the end.

And the lesson is not limited to COIN -- in most human endeavors, success boils down to the quality of leadership. Some will say that you have to have the right people. I counter that the good leader will identify, attract, develop and retain the right people. If the people on the task aren't quite right, it's because the leader isn't quite right.

Don't read this just to learn about COIN -- read it to learn about leadership.

[Aubrey Dustin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Counterinsurgency is a situation with the most complex human dynamics imaginable. This makes it a great backdrop against which to study the utility of leadership. In A Question of Command, Mr. Moyar explores each of the counterinsurgencies the United States has encountered, from the Civil War to the present, and makes a compelling argument that the greatest decisive factor in each was leadership. He analizes leadership in terms of 10 attributes, which are fundamental to counterinsurgency leadership. I recommend this book as the #1 book I have encountered on values based leadership. Its content provides perspective and teaches the reader to view circumstances clearly in terms of leadership.

[Glyn Phillips · Rating 2 out of 5]

Has some strong points but I think its a bit too optimistic about why Americans have failed in Vietnam.