Galula’s first and third laws of counterinsurgency are based on gaining and maintaining support of the population. These concepts form the basis of U.S. COIN doctrine of wining the hearts and minds that is prescribed by FM 3-24.
President Obama’s West Point speech and General Petraeus’s COMISAF guidance provide a framework that is based on a doctrine that has been greatly influenced by Galula’s first and third laws. Galula’s first law states that the support of the population is as necessary for the counterinsurgent as for the insurgent. The challenge is preventing the reemergence of unwanted political activities once an area has been “cleaned.” The population is identified as the center of gravity and its support is required
President Obama’s West Point speech and General Petraeus’s COMISAF guidance provide a framework that is based on a doctrine that has been greatly influenced by Galula’s first and third laws. Galula’s first law states that the support of the population is as necessary for the counterinsurgent as for the insurgent. The challenge is preventing the reemergence of unwanted political activities once an area has been “cleaned.” The population is identified as the center of gravity and its support is required