Wrong Turn: America’s Embrace of Counterinsurgency

“Wrong Turn: America’s Embrace of Counterinsurgency” by Andrew Bacevich is an informative and timely book that examines the consequences of the US military’s adoption of counterinsurgency strategies in its foreign missions. Bacevich, a retired colonel and author of several books on military history, offers readers an in-depth look at how counterinsurgency has been employed in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere with far-reaching implications for American foreign policy. The book covers topics such as the development of counterinsurgency theory, its application in Iraq, the role of private military contractors, and the impact this type of warfare has had on civil society. This review will provide an overview of the key points in Wrong Turn: America’s Embrace of Counterinsurgency and discuss some of its pros and cons.