The COIN Conundrum: The Future of U.S. Counterinsurgency and U.S. Land Power

Counterinsurgency (COIN) continues to be a controversial subject among military leaders. Critics argue that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have made the U.S. military, particularly the Army, "COIN-centric." They maintain that equipping U.S. forces to combat insurgency has eroded their conventional war fighting capabilities. Those committed to preserving and even enhancing COIN capabilities, on the other hand, insist that doing so need not compromise the ability of the military to perform other tasks. They also point out that the likelihood of even a mid-level conventional war remains low while the probability of unconventional engagements is high. This monograph reviews the COIN debate, analyzes current force structure, and concludes that contrary to the more extreme positions taken by critics and proponents, the U.S. military has achieved a healthy balance between COIN and other capabilities, and COIN should remain a core task of an enhanced U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) that could train conventional soldiers in COIN tactics in the event that a large expeditionary COIN mission becomes necessary.

ITEM AVAILABLE DATE 01/31/17.

Related items:

Armed Groups: Studies in National Security, Counterterrorism and Counterinsurgency is available in paperback format at a discounted list price while supplies last here:  https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/008-020-01573-3 --eBook format available from Google Play eBookstore at this link: https://play.google.com/store/search?q=9780160866999&c=books&hl=en or search by ISBN: 9780160866999 within their platform

Counterinsurgency resources collection is available here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/catalog/security-defense-law-enforcement/count...

Counterterrorism collection can be found here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/catalog/security-defense-law-enforcement/count...

This resource may prove helpful to active duty military soldiers, military analysts, military contractor supports, ROTC students, as well as military leaders.  Master degree students pursuing coursework in Homeland Security degree courses and certificates, especially classes such as Political Violence and Terrorism, Security and Civil Liberties, Interagency Cooperation, and undergraduate Homeland Security degree programs (to include coursework for Terrorism and Counterterrorism, cyberwarfare and international counterintelligence classes) may find this text helpful for research papers relating to global security and counterinsurgency topics.