Winning the Next War

Gabriel C. Lajeunesse, Georgetown University, Institute for the Study of Diplomacy
William Wunderle

Abstract

The United States has conducted irregular warfare and counterinsurgency campaigns since its inception.

In fact, part of America’s war of independence was an insurgency against the British. Since its independence, the U.S. has fought counterinsurgency campaigns against the Native Americans, against the South during the Civil War, in the Philippines, and, of course, in Vietnam.

The experiences of America’s friends and allies are similar. Among others, the British fought counterinsurgencies

in Malaya and Northern Ireland, the French in Indochina, Algeria, and Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Israelis conducted counterinsurgency operations during the two major Palestinian uprisings (1987-1993 and 2000-2005) in the West Bank and Gaza. Yet, America’s ability to conduct counterinsurgency has been more ad hoc than institutionalized.