Customer Reviews

Lessons for Contemporary Counterinsurgencies: The Rhodesian Experience/R-3998-A (Rand Report)

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Although brief, Hoffman describes the ingenuity and resourcefulness of the Rhodesians in combating the counterinsurgencies. Although the Rhodesians lost the political war they did a superb job in containing the insurgency. Rhodesia--crippled by the lack of white men--was able to introduce innovative techniques to counter the insurgencies. These innovative techniques are what Hoffman highlights and recommends that Armies intreseted in low intensity conflicts (LIC) adopt. Rhodesia was able to beat the insurgency by denying it two prerequisites of guerilla warfare--freedom of mobility and a freindly population. The Rhodesians, through their Special Air Service--modeled afer the British model--and the Rhodesian Light Infantry, organized small units that could conduct quick lightning strikes. Hoffman points out how public relations and Selous Scotts, a special eight man unit made up of former "turned" rebels, the Rhodesians were able to track down insurgents. Of special note in Hoffman's study, is the appendicies, which offer an insight into mine countermeseasures adopted by the Rhodesians, and a chornology of special operations conducted thourout the war. The mine segment is particularly helpful for African nations dealing with the pleathora of mines left over after various wars.

This is a textbook for how to fight insurgents, full of practical information, it discusses how a tiny army of an embargoed and isolated country effectively defeated a long lasting marxist insurgent movement through innovation and adaptable tactics.

While the book (actually more of a booklet) is a low budget presnetation ( a couple of drawings, a few maps) the value of the information presented is well worth the price. Its simply one of the best sources of information on the market about this topic and will prove invaluable to anyone researching COIN or LIC.