The insurgent hides in plain sight.

Geneva Conventions, the so-called rules governing warfare, require combatants to wear uniforms or, at a minimum, bear arms to distinguish themselves from civillians.

The insurgent will not do this, for it would eliminate his only advantage--invisibility.

To take away the invisibility of the insurgent, make a perfect list.

Abraham Lincoln wrote, when laying out the strategies for winning an election--

"Organize the whole state, so that every Whig can be brought to the polls...
...Divide (the) country into small districts, and... appoint in each a subcommittee.
...Make a perfect list of all the voters and... ascertain with certainty for whom they will vote.
...Keep a constant watch on doubtful voters, and... have them talked to by
those in whom they have the most confidence.
...And on Election Day, see that every Whig is brought to the polls."

So to must the counterinsurgent follow these steps.  An entire nation or province is too large, but a Company sized area of operations can be organized and a perfect list, complete with photos and possibly biometric data, developed and their family and political loyalties ascertained with a degree of certainty.

A constant eye can be kept on those who are suspicious.  Have them talked to by those whom they trust and the counterinsurgents trust.

If evidence is obtained that they are insurgents, do not arrest them right away as they may unwittingly lead you to more.

Drink the tea, eat the lamb, carry a bottle of Immodium.  Drink another cup of tea.  Ask about his family.  Talk about his family, especially his sons and brothers. 

"Enta mizzawege?" he will ask.  He wants to know if you are married and have kids. 

In Iraq, the khams system is alive.  That means the basic clan structure is based on common ancestry for up to five generations. 

Understand the geneology of your area of operations and you have a map of the relationships in your area of operations.

(COIN - counterinsurgency)

The Outside the Wire Project would not exist without the support of our generous patrons.

Freedom isn't free, and neither is traveling to Iraq and embedding with our troops to present an in-depth look at their deployments.

Please help support Outside the Wire by purchasing a DVD !



You can also donate through Paypal!

Any smart man can catalogue the errors of others.  A wise man can learn from those errors.

It takes a truly brilliant man to overcome those errors.

Dr. Joseph Collins, a retired Army Colonel, former Deputy Ass. Sec. Def. and now professor at the National Defense University has published a paper that many smart men already have published. 

He even looks at ways to possibly learn from those errors.

And for that he will earn much ink and air-time . 

But I am not a pessimist looking backward.  Or an optimist looking forward.