If you are interested in rational counter insurgency, you have to watch David Kilcullen.

He will be on BookTV (CSPAN2) Monday morning @ 6:45 a.m. I've watched him twice, very skeptical at first because he was an adviser to Petraeus and that usually means a political agenda. He doesn't politicize in the least, he's very clear and he covers Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. No buzz words, just a very down to Earth description of what it is like to try to manage an insurgency and in a tone that is remarkably respectful of the population in question. Set your TIVO.

If you can't watch it that way, the segment will very likely be available for viewing next week on the BookTV website. He has a book out, The Accidental Guerilla, that I imagine is a great read, fwiw:

About the Program

David Kilcullen, former senior counterinsurgency adviser to General Petraeus in Iraq, talks about the relationship between the war on terror and smaller guerrilla wars being fought around the world. He also discusses President Obama's plans for Afghanistan. Mr. Kilcullen is interviewed by the Washington Post's David Ignatius at an event hosted by the Center for a New American Security.

About the Author

David Kilcullen, former Australian infantry officer, is a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security and a partner at the Crumpton Group, a Washington, D.C.-based strategic advisory firm. Prior to joining CNAS, he served as Special Advisor for Counterinsurgency to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. For more, visit cnas.org and search his name.

http://www.booktv.org/program.aspx?ProgramId=10417&SectionName=

kilcullen is a pacifist isnt he? I know that emma sky, another COIN strategist, was. There was a Quaker intellectual in the group that kilcullen works with also.

I will try to catch that cspan episode

I found an interview he did with Charlie Rose, 2007.

http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/8726