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Counter-insurgency

Nigerien soldiers patrol near the town of Diffa, Niger. US Special Forces are training Nigerian troops on Niger's border.

Three US Special Forces soldiers die in Niger, as diplomacy takes a backseat in Africa policy

Conflict

Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb or a related extremist group is thought to have targeted the US troops, in an attack that highlights an incoherent US policy in West Africa.

Mass. community puts Afghan-style counter-insurgency tactics to use against gangs

Global Politics

A new generation of military leaders

Global Politics

Population centers focus of new Afghan strategy

Military’s Counter Insurgency Strategy — C3 Policing — a Success in Massachusett

Conflict & Justice

Assessing America’s Counterinsurgency in Iraq

This month marks 10 years since the start of the American war in Iraq. In military operations alone, the war totaled over $800 billion and largely defined by America’s counterinsurgency efforts in the region. General David Petraeus, who led American military operations in Iraq, was the main proponent of the counterinsurgency tactics used in the […]

Some Combat Restrictions for Women Lifted

The Pentagon announced new rules this week that would allow women to serve closer to the front lines and will be implemented later this summer. The changes would allow women to serve in non-infantry battalion jobs, such as radio operators, intelligence analysts, medics, radar operators and tank mechanics. This could open up 14,000 new jobs […]

The Legacy of General David Petraeus

From February 10, 2007 to September 16, 2008, retired General David Petraeus oversaw all coalition forces in Iraq. He was the mastermind behind the counterinsurgency in Iraq and Afghanistan, and served as top commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan until July of 2011, when he became director of the CIA.  He is arguably one […]

‘Tough Days Ahead’ in Afghanistan for General Allen

Global Politics

New commander of international forces in Afghanistan issues warning as violence flares.

The World

In counterinsurgency, does restraint deserve its own reward?

As avoiding the loss of civilian life is a cornerstone of the coalition’s counterinsurgency campaign in Afghanistan, does rewarding restraint makes sense? Is restraint a courageous act or does it put our troops in danger?