Vietnam to Afghanistan: The Shift of United States Military Counter-Insurgency Tactics

Vietnam to Afghanistan: The Shift of United States Military Counter-Insurgency Tactics  

CDT Jaskaran Singh

University of Cincinnati ROTC

Abstract

This paper explores the history of the U.S. Involvement in Afghanistan and Vietnam and how COIN tactics were utilized against Insurgents. Using several sources, the aim is to compare and contrast tactics used in both conflicts. Finding the approach used in both conflicts and what events took place, this paper will ultimately answer is America is really enduring it’s second Vietnam in Afghanistan.

Keywords:  Vietnam, Afghanistan, COIN, Insuregency

Vietnam to Afghanistan: The Shift of United States Military Counter-Insurgency Tactics  

September 11, 2001: As Americans, we will never forget what took place that day. A terrorist attack took over 3,000 lives on US soil and was the spark that lead The United States to be on the forefront on The Global War of Terrorism, spending the following decade engaged in persistent armed conflict in Afghanistan to eliminate Al-Qaeda and remove the Taliban from power. Over this time, the viewpoints of our country’s leaders, civilians, and other nations have changed regarding our involvement and raised questions about similarities to our participation in the Vietnam War. Both conflicts were very complex as they are not necessarily direct engagements against a country’s unified military. The Vietnam War came at a time when many nations were shifting their governments to align with the ideals of Communism. Vietnam was Split in two opposing groups, North and South Vietnam. The North was backed communist allies such as China and the Soviet Union whereas the United States, Australia, and other anti-communist allies supported the South. Although the reason behind our country’s involvement in both conflicts differ greatly, the style of conflict was largely the same. Both opposing factions from Afghanistan and Vietnam utilized guerrilla warfare tactics against the US, who used more conventional warfare. Alongside guerrilla warfare, the enemy utilized terrorism to foster insecurity within the population and influence political gains. Thus, to combat this, the US implemented COIN campaigns, in Vietnam, and again in Afghanistan.

Insurgency/COIN Tactics

COIN and Insurgency defined

        The term COIN is short for counterinsurgency. Defined as: organized military activity designed to combat insurgency. It is the use of all elements of a nations power, including no only combined arms but also psychological, political, economic, intelligence, and diplomatic operations to defeat an insurgency. An insurgency is an organized uprising that uses violent and nonviolent means to overthrow an existing government or to wrest away control, either de jure or de facto, over part of its territory. Insurgencies typically have political or religious motivation but criminal gangs can also become powerful enough to imperil a state's authority. Most insurgencies utilize a combination of guerrilla warfare (hit-and-run attacks directed primarily at government security forces) and terrorist tactics (attacks directed primarily against civilians) supported by propaganda and political organizing. The U.S. is perhaps the best in counterinsurgency force in the world today. This is due in part of the amount time in COIN conflicts the U.S. endured. Lessons learned in Vietnam, and the 13 or so years in Afghanistan has continually improved and strengthened its COIN force.