Strategy Classroom

Review: Afghan Guerilla Warfare: Mujahideen Tactics in the Soviet Afghan War by Ali Jalali and Lester Grau

Shortly after Russia withdraw from Afghanistan, the US Marine Corps sent some officers to the country to interview frontline Mujahideen leaders. The idea was to get an insight into how the guerrilla war was conducted and to then incorporate that knowledge into counter-insurgency training back in the US.   This book contains details of about 100 mujahideen ambushes in the words of people who were present.  The ambushes are mostly described in less than three pages apiece. Many include maps and although not chronologically listed, the evolution in tactics used by both sides in the conflict is very clear.  This is a story of the triumph of a lightly armed indigenous population over an invading army which possessed superior firepower, the story of a cause defeating a professional army and perhaps confirmation of the adage that those who can endure the most will ultimately prevail. 

This book should appeal to anyone interested in strategy or indeed anyone who wants to understand something about the people of Afghanistan and the conflicts of recent decades. Coincidentally, many of the place names mentioned, feature again in the more recent Afghanistan conflict and probably some of those who co-operated in the book found themselves subsequently opposing US & UK forces post 9/11.