Help me create my next college course

Th3 Maelstr0m

Bally-hoosman
Verified Military
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Jan 19, 2010
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169
Location
Midwest
Okay, here's the quick rundown:

I'm doing an independent study course with my Islamic Civilization teacher next semester. Basically I pick a topic & we create a course around it. He's easily the most brilliant person i've ever met, & he's a SOF vet that served in Vietnam & has a LOT of first hand experience. I told him I wanted to broaden my horizons & learn about counterinsurgency (I realize the topic is rather broad, & it will be narrowed in the coming weeks after we choose the best books). He was thrilled at the idea & told me to look at a few books that I may want to use for the course.

Courtesy of the search button, I have found the following books:
Learning to eat soup with a knife
The Accidental Guerilla
Pamwe Chete (Obviously this one will be hard to find/afford, but this is the one I'm most interested in)
Army/Marine Corps Counterinsurgency manual

What I am hoping to get some help with is recommendations on which 2 books you think are most conducive to an informal classroom setting, as well as any tips. Your time & consideration is much appreciated.
 
The Arabs by Eugene Rogan (Penguin). Some good background information on the area and covers all conflicts, particularly from chapter 10 onwards.
Just finished a quick read on Operation Jaguar and the SAS battle at Mirbat in Oman. What is interesting is the final chapters which outline an INT operation and how the battle turned the region. Some info also on how the SAS cats did the hearts and minds thing.
Also Low Intensity Opertions by Frank Kitson, a minor classic.
 
My professor gave a list of books he thinks would be most beneficial for our course, now he asked me to widdle the list down to the 2 or 3 I want to read the most. Which 3 would you choose?
John A. Nagl, learning to eat soup with a knife
Roger Trinquier. Modern Warfare: French Views of counterinsurgency
David Galula. Counterinsurgency Warfare: Theory and Practice (most referenced)
David Kilcullen. Counterinsurgency
COL Thomas X. Hammes, USMC, The Sling and the Stone: on war in the 21st century
Robert Taber. War of the Flea
Mark Moyar, A Question of Command (one that I am interested to check out more closely)
Chaliand. Guerilla Strategies: Historical Anthology from the Long March to Afghanistan
Small War Manual (1940 edition)
John Poole, Tactics of the Crescent Moon (look interesting but I don't know anything about it. It was II MEF reading list)
 
My professor gave a list of books he thinks would be most beneficial for our course, now he asked me to widdle the list down to the 2 or 3 I want to read the most. Which 3 would you choose?
John A. Nagl, learning to eat soup with a knife
COL Thomas X. Hammes, USMC, The Sling and the Stone: on war in the 21st century
Small War Manual (1940 edition)

I think it would be interesting to contrast the 1940s small wars manual with modern counterinsurgency.

I personally dislike Poole's writings and would avoid Crescent Moon if possible.
 
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