Arms of Little Value: The Challenge of Insurgency and Global Instability in the Twenty-First Century - Hardcover

"an excellent book which I highly recommended to all readers who wish to understand what an insurgency is, its causes and how the west can better deal with insurgencies in the future. Whilst critical in the extreme, it aptly focuses the readers mind on the issues we face around the world and what causes these issues. The reader will come away from this book with a better understanding of the world we live in."--Warfare Magazine "Through case studies and analysis, Lamborn, a former Army and Central Intelligence Agency officer, seeks to explicate the importance of political action to insurgencies and explain how military power is successful only to the extent it delegitimizes an insurgency. . . . If readers accept the premise of honest, critical evaluation of military power's limits, there is much to be gained from Arms of Little Value."--Military Review

What we've seen in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Bahrein, Yemen, and elsewhere is merely the beginning. We are entering an extremely dangerous period in our history. The author has been a student and observer, and sometimes a participant, in various insurgencies since his "initiation" in Vietnam in 1969. This book gives the reader an understanding of the true nature of insurgency and a glimpse at the reasons why we have not always dealt with it effectively. If the reader gains some insight into insurgency, and can apply his knowledge intelligently, Jimmy Doolittle's wish will come true: we will start fighting more from the neckline up . . . and less from the neckline down. About the Author In a career spanning 42 years, G. L. Lamborn has 26 years of experience with the Central Intelligence Agency, working in a variety of operational, analytical, and leadership assignments in the Directorate of Operations, Directorate of Intelligence, and the Office of the Director. A trained operations officer, Mr. Lamborn specialised in insurgency and influence operations in support of national directives in the 1980s and 1990s. He has served in various Third World countries and in several successor republics of the former Soviet Union. A Vietnam War veteran, he currently lives in San Antonio, Texas.