The British Approach to Counter-Insurgency: An American View

Counter-insurgency is built upon the need to provide security for the population while building political legitimacy for the local government. Counter-insurgency's success involves isolating the insurgents from their cause and base of support among the population requiring alternatives bases of support and guaranteeing security for the population. Some of the application of the basic principles of counter-insurgency that was also used by British were emphasis of the importance of non-military instruments of power and the imperative use of minimum force. The persistent difficulties that Britain experienced in trying to implement a comprehensive approach suggest that the US experience in Iraq and Afghanistan may be less of an aberration. British actions in Kenya, Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone and Afghanistan deviate from the stereotype of the British approach to irregular warfare. It resembles that of the Americans, with military force disconnected from political supervision and forced used in excess.