The British Boer War and the French Algerian Conflict Counterinsurgency for Today: Guerilla Warfare, Case Study of Algerian Conflict 1954-1962, Literature Review, Small Wars, Colonel Callwell

This excellent report has been professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction. Military historical case studies provide insight for military planners. Military planners cannot afford to ignore history when planning in today's complex environment. This thesis analyzes military doctrinal changes and adaptation during Britain's Boer War and the French counterinsurgency war in Algeria. The Boer War serves as an example of doctrinal change during a counterinsurgency campaign. The French experience demonstrates the difficult task of fighting against an ambiguous enemy who uses terrorism as its primary tactic. A counterinsurgency comparison and analysis focuses on three issues present in both case studies: population control measures, operational tactics, and the civil military operations. The conclusion offers solutions to the military situation today based on the British and French counterinsurgency. This thesis argues history provides US military planners with the background to develop a successful counterinsurgency strategy for today's environment.

CHAPTER 1 * INTRODUCTION * The Counterinsurgency Model * The Literature Review * CHAPTER 2 * A CASE STUDY OF THE BOER WAR, 1899-1902 * Boer War Background * Conventional War and British Doctrine * Guerilla Warfare * Conclusion * CHAPTER 3 * A CASE STUDY OF THE FRENCH ALGERIAN CONFLICT: 1954-1962 * The Beginnings of Conflict * The Algerian War for Independence * Conclusion * CHAPTER 4 * ANALYSIS OF THE BOER WAR AND THE FRENCH ALGERIAN WAR * The British Analysis * The French Analysis * Conclusion * CHAPTER 5 * THE BOER WAR AND THE FRENCH ALGERIAN CONFLICT: LESSONS FOR TODAY * BIBLIOGRAPHY

War affects society. The action or inaction of military or paramilitary force influences popular support. The public bears the consequences or reaps the benefits of military action. Counterinsurgency strategy balances the requirements of civil rights and security. Clausewitz's described three factors of war in his book, On War, "These three tendencies are like three codes of law, deep-rooted in their subject and yet variable in their relationship to one another." Although Clausewitz's comments referred to commanders, governments, and people, the trinity applies to a counterinsurgency war. The model provides a simple framework to discuss the interaction among the forces of an insurgency. Mao understood the importance of the winning the support of the people in a revolutionary war. He said, "The political goal must be clearly and precisely indicated to inhabitants of guerilla zones and their national consciousness awakened." A successful counterinsurgency campaign accounts for each leg of the triangle with the goal of creating legitimacy and building the support of the population.