For if When writing about the many small wars that have characterised conflict, particularly since the end of the Cold War, pundits are fond of trotting out the standard line: there can be no military solution, only a political one. But thinking about Sri Lanka's long civil war, I begin to wonder if it is necessarily so, and the human cost of prolonging conflicts in search of those elusive political solutions. This is generally accepted as an a priori truth so much so that no one argues with it. When writing about the many small wars that have characterised conflict, particularly since the end of the Cold War, pundits are fond of trotting out the standard line: there can be no military solution, only a political one. Student of counterinsurgency campaigns? Add this splendid study to your library. And 24 pages of B&W photographs visually spice the stew. Four pages of maps geographically and chronologically chart the conflict. A handy list recaps acronyms and abbreviations. Their methods, which have led to accusations of war crimes, were brutally effective but are likely to remain highly contentions for years to come.REVIEWS Charts recap organizational structures of the LTTE and of Sri Lanka's chief of national intelligence. He reveals how the authorities determined to stamp out Tamil Tiger resistance by whatever means frustrated the media and foreign mediators. He also interviewed the surviving leader of the Tamil Tigers.His conclusions and findings will be controversial. Many countries involved themselves in the war to arm the combatants (China, Pakistan, India, and North Korea) or to bring peace (US, France, UK, and Norway).While researching this work Professor Moorcraft was given unprecedented access to Sri Lankan politicians (including the President and his brother, the Defense Permanent Secretary), senior generals, intelligence chiefs, civil servants, UN officials, foreign diplomats and NGOs. The story of this war is fascinating in itself, besides the international repercussions for terrorism and insurgency worldwide. It was as if the British army killed thousands of IRA cadres to end the war in Northern Ireland. This was the first time that a government had defeated an indigenous insurgency by force of arms. The story of this war is fascinating in itself, besides the i In 2009, the Sri Lankan government forces literally eradicated the Tamil Tiger insurgency after 26 years of civil war. In 2009, the Sri Lankan government forces literally eradicated the Tamil Tiger insurgency after 26 years of civil war.