All Wars are Local: Lessons from the Philippine Insurrection
Abstract
The Philippine Insurrection of 1899-1902 is a little remembered part of US history. The US sent forces halfway around the world to fight a conventional enemy with an ill-defined end state, and then found itself in a protracted insurgency fight that grew increasingly unpopular at home. The US Army had to cope with a lack of knowledge about the people, the local politics, and the terrain. The Army adapted to the challenge and evolved many successful ways of dealing with the insurrection. The parallels to today are uncanny, and it is unfortunate that many of the lessons of a century ago slipped away. This paper will look at the events of the Philippine Insurrection and examine what the US military can learn from it. Particularly important lessons include: 1) not rushing to hand over control to civilian authorities; 2) developing a range of governance measures; 3) retaining the flexibility to deal with local situations; 4) developing civic institutions from the ground up. These lessons retain their utility and can be applied in the future. The US Army ought never to forget the experience of the Philippine Insurrection.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 23, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA560371
Entities
People
- Todd Brost
Organizations
- United States Army War College