Customer Reviews

The Art of Insurgency: American Military Policy and the Failure of Strategy in Southeast Asia

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Truly a superb and important work!
This book should be read not only by all those interested in military history and the Vietnam war, but particularly by those interested in understanding better the circumstances facing the United States and its allies today in the war on terrorism. Hamilton's insights on insurgent organizations, terror cells, and strategic design in historical context, can be well applied by policy makers today in understanding the depth of problems now being faced. Lessons learned then would not need to be repeated as mistakes today. This book is not overwhelming in repetitious fact finding, and Hamilton's minimalist writing style is appreciated. Academics will also enjoy the marvelous research and constructed bibliography. Recommended to all readers interested in like subjects related to contemporary military strategic thought and history, and to government officials of the highest rank.

This treatment of conflict and the clear understanding of insurgency frees true students of warfare from past failed stratagem demons still haunting us today. By explaining, first, what insurgency is not (revolutionary war, extensions of Maoist approaches, etc), Professor Hamilton defines, illustrates, and then analyzes several post WWII conflicts to drive his premise home. This monograph is probably the best blueprint today to transform the US strategy from Global War on Terror to a longer lasting institutional and reasoned Insurgency doctrine. Only when Don's work is inculcated into modern military strategy will the US get it right. Mr. Hamilton's use of the Philippine, Malaysian, and Vietnamese experience are thorough and relevant. They are excellent studies on their own right as military histories and serve well as bulwarks and illustrative of evolutionary military thought. Overall, the Art of Insurgency is an excellent history, superb analysis, and a must manuscript for military institutions world wide.

Lt Col Andre Provoncha, USAF (ret)