Emily Spencer – författare

This collection of essays explores how fighting in the rugged, hostile lands of Afghanistan is no easy task.

Afghanistan has long been considered the graveyard of empires. Throughout their history, Afghans have endured the ravages of foreign invaders, from marauding hordes and imperial armies to global superpowers, while demonstrating a fierce independence and strong resistance to outside occupiers. Those who have ventured into Afghanistan with notions of controlling its people have soon discovered that fighting in that rugged, hostile land is no easy task. Afghans have proven to be tenacious and unrelenting foes.

No Easy Task examines this legacy of conflict, particularly from a Canadian perspective. What emerges is the difficulty faced by foreign forces attempting to impose their will over Afghans who, for their part, have consistently adapted tactics and strategies to stymie and defeat those they perceive as invaders and interlopers. It is within this complexity and challenge that the difficult counter-insurgency must be fought.

This collection of essays explores how fighting in the rugged, hostile lands of Afghanistan is no easy task.

Afghanistan has long been considered the graveyard of empires. Throughout their history, Afghans have endured the ravages of foreign invaders, from marauding hordes and imperial armies to global superpowers, while demonstrating a fierce independence and strong resistance to outside occupiers. Those who have ventured into Afghanistan with notions of controlling its people have soon discovered that fighting in that rugged, hostile land is no easy task. Afghans have proven to be tenacious and unrelenting foes.

No Easy Task examines this legacy of conflict, particularly from a Canadian perspective. What emerges is the difficulty faced by foreign forces attempting to impose their will over Afghans who, for their part, have consistently adapted tactics and strategies to stymie and defeat those they perceive as invaders and interlopers. It is within this complexity and challenge that the difficult counter-insurgency must be fought.

The Difficult War: Perspectives on Insurgency and Special Operations Forces is a collection of essays that deals with theoretical concepts related to insurgency as well as to the practice of irregular warfare. Since special operations forces are such an integral element to counter-insurgency, this volume also contains a large SOF component. Importantly, this book will assist the practitioner of the profession of arms to understand insurgency or, perhaps more accurately, counter-insurgency and those components that are germane to its practice. Moreover, The Difficult War provides insight and knowledge about these complex forms of warfare that are useful and accessible to both the lay reader and the military expert. As such the book is a valuable volume for those connected to or interested in the profession of arms.

The twenty-first century has brought the perfect storm of conditions to create substantive global instability. This contemporary operating environment (COE) is characterized by complexity, ambiguity, volatility, and constant danger. It is a human invention that requires a human solution. Special operations forces (SOF), a group comprised of highly trained personnel with the ability to deploy rapidly and apply special skills in a variety of environments and circumstances, is the logical force of choice to achieve success in the COE. Increasing their effectiveness is cultural intelligence (CQ) – the ability to recognize the shared beliefs, values, attitudes, and behaviours of a group of people and then apply that knowledge toward a specific goal. Empowered by CQ, SOF are positioned to dominate in the COE. Solving the People Puzzle makes a convincing argument for the powerful union of the "force of choice" with the "tool of choice." This book will inspire and inform.

The twenty-first century has brought the perfect storm of conditions to create substantive global instability. This contemporary operating environment (COE) is characterized by complexity, ambiguity, volatility, and constant danger. It is a human invention that requires a human solution. Special operations forces (SOF), a group comprised of highly trained personnel with the ability to deploy rapidly and apply special skills in a variety of environments and circumstances, is the logical force of choice to achieve success in the COE. Increasing their effectiveness is cultural intelligence (CQ) – the ability to recognize the shared beliefs, values, attitudes, and behaviours of a group of people and then apply that knowledge toward a specific goal. Empowered by CQ, SOF are positioned to dominate in the COE. Solving the People Puzzle makes a convincing argument for the powerful union of the "force of choice" with the "tool of choice." This book will inspire and inform.

The Difficult War: Perspectives on Insurgency and Special Operations Forces is a collection of essays that deals with theoretical concepts related to insurgency as well as to the practice of irregular warfare. Since special operations forces are such an integral element to counter-insurgency, this volume also contains a large SOF component. Importantly, this book will assist the practitioner of the profession of arms to understand insurgency or, perhaps more accurately, counter-insurgency and those components that are germane to its practice. Moreover, The Difficult War provides insight and knowledge about these complex forms of warfare that are useful and accessible to both the lay reader and the military expert. As such the book is a valuable volume for those connected to or interested in the profession of arms.

L’ouvrage intitulne guerre difficile : Points de vue sur l’insurrection et les FOS aborde les concepts thiques liaux insurrections et a pratique de la guerre irrli. Le prnt volume s’intsse dans une large mesure aux forces d’options spales, car elles constituent un ment intal des mesures de contre insurrection. Ce recueil aidera les membres de la profession des armes omprendre ce qu’est l’insurrection, ou plus prsnt peut-e, la contre-insurrection et ses ments connexes caractstiques. De plus, Une guerre difficile jette un airage particulier sur ce type de guerre complexe qui peut revr diverses formes. C’est un ouvrage utile et accessible qui saura intsser tant le lecteur profane que l’expert militaire, ou toutes les personnes li ou intss a profession des armes.

Ce manuel qui vient enrichir le corpus de connaissances actuelles sur les mesures de contre insurrection et les forces d’options spales prnte le sujet de fa thique et historique et fait le lien entre le passt les options en Afghanistan. Plus prsnt, des chapitres sont consacrau renseignement, au terrorisme, a privatisation de la sritans les conflits ’anger, a guerre non conventionnelle comme ce fut le cas en Afghanistan durant l’occupation sovique, et aux options en cours des forces de la coalition, en Afghanistan.

L’ouvrage intitulne guerre difficile : Points de vue sur l’insurrection et les FOS aborde les concepts thiques liaux insurrections et a pratique de la guerre irrli. Le prnt volume s’intsse dans une large mesure aux forces d’options spales, car elles constituent un ment intal des mesures de contre insurrection. Ce recueil aidera les membres de la profession des armes omprendre ce qu’est l’insurrection, ou plus prsnt peut-e, la contre-insurrection et ses ments connexes caractstiques. De plus, Une guerre difficile jette un airage particulier sur ce type de guerre complexe qui peut revr diverses formes. C’est un ouvrage utile et accessible qui saura intsser tant le lecteur profane que l’expert militaire, ou toutes les personnes li ou intss a profession des armes.

Ce manuel qui vient enrichir le corpus de connaissances actuelles sur les mesures de contre insurrection et les forces d’options spales prnte le sujet de fa thique et historique et fait le lien entre le passt les options en Afghanistan. Plus prsnt, des chapitres sont consacrau renseignement, au terrorisme, a privatisation de la sritans les conflits ’anger, a guerre non conventionnelle comme ce fut le cas en Afghanistan durant l’occupation sovique, et aux options en cours des forces de la coalition, en Afghanistan.