1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910787800403321

Autore

Ucko David H

Titolo

Counterinsurgency in crisis : Britain and the challenges of modern warfare / / David H. Ucko and Robert Egnell

Pubbl/distr/stampa

New York : , : Columbia University Press, , 2013

ISBN

0-231-53541-4

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (249 p.)

Collana

Columbia Studies in Terrorism and Irregular Warfare

Altri autori (Persone)

EgnellRobert

Disciplina

355/.02180941

Soggetti

Counterinsurgency - Great Britain

Counterinsurgency - Iraq - Baṣrah

Counterinsurgency - Afghanistan - Helmand

Iraq War, 2003-2011 - Participation, British

Afghan War, 2001-2021 - Participation, British

Great Britain History, Military 21st century

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Description based upon print version of record.

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nota di contenuto

Untangling the British counterinsurgency legacy -- The British in Basra: with heads held high into the abyss -- Act II: British counterinsurgency in Helmand -- "A horse and tank moment" -- Whither British counterinsurgency?

Sommario/riassunto

Long considered the masters of counterinsurgency, the British military encountered significant problems in Iraq and Afghanistan when confronted with insurgent violence. In their effort to apply the principles and doctrines of past campaigns, they failed to prevent Basra and Helmand from descending into lawlessness, criminality, and violence. By juxtaposing the deterioration of these situations against Britain's celebrated legacy of counterinsurgency, this investigation identifies both the contributions and limitations of traditional tactics in such settings, exposing a disconcerting gap between ambitions and resources, intent and commitment. Building upon this detailed account of the Basra and Helmand campaigns, this volume conducts an unprecedented assessment of British military institutional adaptation in response to operations gone awry. In calling attention to the enduring effectiveness of insurgent methods and the threat posed by



undergoverned spaces, David H. Ucko and Robert Egnell underscore the need for military organizations to meet the irregular challenges of future wars in new ways.