The Allure of Quick Victory: Lessons from Peru's Fight against Sendero Luminoso - Major Michael L. Burgoyne, Military Review.
The decapitation of Sendero Luminoso (SL) in conjunction with the use of local security forces and a whole-of-government approach allowed Peru to defeat SL in the 1990s. A failure to follow through with the benefits of government services and a lack of pressure by security forces has allowed SL to regroup. In order to achieve a lasting victory the Peruvian government must address the foundations of insurgency: the intransigent insurgent leadership and the welfare of the population. Peru's current challenges provide an admonition to the US in its current efforts to consolidate gains in Iraq and in support of other allies facing insurgency...
Read the entire article at Military Review.
Comments
Great article! Will be interesting if the Iraqi Government is able to follow through with the integration of Sons of Iraq into the security forces unlike the Peruvian government did with the Rondas Campesinos. One benefit Iraq has over Peru is its insurgents do not have the endless source of in-country capital drugs provide the Peruvian insurgent. Iraqi insurgents depend more on foreign monetary aid. With any luck, the Iraqi Oil Industry will eventually outspend any insurgent attempts to take over the country. That is of course if Iraq continues to improve that resource.
Jim