The Evolution of Insurgencies and Their Counter-Insurgencies

Brandon Rud

Mau Mau and Iraq

December 3, 2008

The evolution of insurgencies and their counter-insurgencies

There has been many insurgencies throughout history and many have had different reasons but all counter insurgencies have had one goal, to stop the insurgencies. Though insurgencies have evolved and become more violent, counter insurgencies have evolved and become less violent. The only difference between most insurgencies and counter insurgencies is how they were carried out and the tactics that were used throughout history to defeat the insurgencies. All of the different tactics show how the counter insurgencies have evolved throughout history and how some of the older tactics are not considered humane or acceptable to use today in current counter insurgencies. Though older counter insurgency strategies aren't considered acceptable many insurgencies are still being defeated with new strategies, though it is a lot harder than it once was before. Though strategies of the past are still around today such as the use of torture they are things that will probably always be around to intimidate insurgents and break them. So how have insurgencies and counter insurgencies evolved throughout history?

The insurgency in Kenya in 1945 was not a very effective insurgency for the fact that it was defeated by the British. This was probably because of the fact that counter insurgency tactics at this time involved the screening of Mau Mau rebels and they were usually tortured during these screenings until they got them to renounce their oaths that they had made and the British would get information that would help them identify Mau Mau leaders and local activists 1. The British were very violent in dealing with this insurgency since they could easily do it without anyone knowing what was going on back home in Britain. This was also very advantageous to the British because they could use violent tactics in dealing with the Mau Mau rebels without angering other countries or their own2. This is a big reason why these tactics that were used by the British aren't used as much today in current insurgencies since it would cause a uproar especially if the United States used them in Iraq with all of the media coverage that is over there. This would surely anger countries around the world today, especially the United States since mistreatment to other soldiers or torture is highly unacceptable. The only thing is that though it is something that has some what declined, the use of torture to extract information from insurgents will most definitely always be a tactic that will be used by counter insurgencies. This brute tactic sadly is sometimes the only way to gain vital information needed to defeat an insurgency. This again shows how we have evolved to more civil and more humane counter insurgencies today for the most part but there are certain tactics that will most likely always be used in successful counter insurgencies. Though the British counter insurgency was very successful it was also very violent and horrible how they tortured Mau Mau rebels just so they could get information on where leaders where so that they could take down the insurgency 3. The fact still remains though that this helped them defeat the insurgency by using extreme violence and force, which today is criticized by people and frowned upon by most countries.

Another one of the more violent insurgencies and counter insurgencies would have to be in Algeria. This insurgency is another one that helped evolve insurgencies. This insurgency was very violent since the insurgents would go and bomb public places by placing bombs in certain popular spots and blow up everyone inside. The insurgency group during the Algerian insurgency was the F.L.N and they carried out all of these violent attacks including drive by shootings or even public assassinations of police or French soldiers. Also in Algeria it was the citizens of the country fighting for their right to have freedom and independence from the French. This was probably the start of the evolution of how insurgencies would carry out attacks 4.

Today in Iraq insurgencies are much more violent than they once were since they are carried out by terrorist. The insurgencies today have evolved from once using bombs in baskets like in Algeria, to now using more explosive car bombs and driving into any packed public place and detonating the bomb. The other more popular tactic that the terrorist now use today that has evolved from the placement of bombs is the terrorists are now using suicide bombers to dress up like a normal person and blow themselves up with everyone around them. This shows one of the biggest evolutions in insurgencies today and how they execute their attacks to ride themselves of the opposing army.

Though insurgencies have evolved and become more violent, counter insurgencies have evolved and become less violent. This has made it a lot harder to defeat an insurgency today compared to what it was like in the past during the Mau Mau insurgency or the Algerian insurgency. Though military force is still used today to rid countries such as Iraq of terrorists or insurgents, we are using certain torture methods to gather information on the insurgencies so we can find the leaders of the insurgency 5. This makes is so much more difficult today and a prime example is the Iraq war where we have been dealing with the insurgency for many years and still can't defeat it. This is because our only option today is to really just keep exterminating the terrorist insurgents until they eventually give up or are defeated. This evolution into a more humane and kind way of dealing with insurgencies has made it very hard for counter insurgencies to be successful and defeat the insurgencies. This evolution of counter insurgency tactics has hindered the success rate for defeating insurgencies and has made it a lot easier for the insurgents. This raises a lot of questions about whether we should bring back the successful tactics used by past counter insurgencies or whether counter insurgencies should just sit back and use less extreme, violent tactics while insurgents the insurgents use more violent tactics. Then the insurgents can continue to become more violent and deadly and become more successful in winning their insurgencies. If this evolution continues as it has then almost every insurgency that takes place will be successful if the counter insurgency continues to try and be more peaceful and humane in dealing with