The Difficult War
Description
The Difficult War: Perspectives on Insurgency and Special Operations Forces is a collection of essays that deals with theoretical concepts related to insurgency as well as to the practice of irregular warfare. Since special operations forces are such an integral element to counter-insurgency, this volume also contains a large SOF component. Importantly, this book will assist the practitioner of the profession of arms to understand insurgency or, perhaps more accurately, counter-insurgency and those components that are germane to its practice. Moreover, The Difficult War provides insight and knowledge about these complex forms of warfare that are useful and accessible to both the lay reader and the military expert. As such the book is a valuable volume for those connected to or interested in the profession of arms.
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Person
Dr. Emily Spencer is an assistant professor at the University of Northern British Columbia and a research associate with the Canadian Forces Leadership Institute. Her main areas of interest include the relationships of society to war and violent conflict in democracies and, in particular, the gendered elements within these relationships, as well as the study of culture and war. She lives in Prince George, British Columbia.
Content
- Cover
- Half title
- Title
- Copyright
- Contents
- Foreword
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- 1 Mao Zedong and the People's War
- 2 The End of Asymmetry:
- Force Disparity and the Aims of War
- 3 Intelligence and Its Application to Irregular Warfare
- 4 "The People Puzzle":
- The Importance of Cultural Intelligence to Counterinsurgency
- 5 Defining Terrorism
- 6 Operational Alchemy in Northern Ireland:
- The Mutually Enabling Relationship Between SOF and Intelligence
- 7 Fighting the Mujahideen:
- Lessons from the Soviet Counterinsurgency Experience in Afghanistan
- 8 Unconventional Warfare Operations in Afghanistan - September to December 2001
- 9 From the Cold War to Insurgency:
- Preparing Leaders for the Contemporary Operating Environment
- 10 SOF for Sale:
- The Canadian Forces and the Challenge of Privatized Security
- 11 Building Coalition Special Operations Forces for the "Long War"
- Contributors
- Index
