Countering Arab Insurgencies: The British Experience

Abstract

The military forces of several powers, most notably those of the US and Britain, are currently engaged in counter-insurgency campaigns against Arab opponents in Iraq. Given this, and the likelihood that the Middle East will continue to be an area where Western forces will be operationally active, this article looks at what insights can be gained from an examination of past experience; that is, how British forces dealt with Arab insurgencies during the imperial period. While there is much that is different in the contemporary period, this article points out that there are continuities that need to be appreciated. Not least among these is the pressing need for service personnel to have a strong knowledge of local languages, with the understanding of culture that accompanies such expertise. There is a template here that has clear relevance, and which needs to be examined by those conducting the counter-insurgency campaigns of today.