From my review of The Battle of Algiers, “French Lessons” in The American Conservative, February 2, 2004: The Pentagon special operations chiefs screened the once-famous 1965 film The Battle of Algiers last August, inspiring its timely re-release in selected theaters this month. Produced by arch-terrorist Saadi Yacef (who played himself) and directed by the Italian Communist Gillo Pontecorvo, this favorite of the old New Left recounts with remarkably dispassionate (if selective) accuracy one of France's many military victories on its road to losing the 1954-1962 Algerian war of independence. Ultimately, the 132-year old settlement of one million "pied noir" Europeans was driven into the sea.
>The Battle of Algiers ignores France's expensive efforts to buy the hearts and minds of the Arabs and Berbers. Nor does it stress how the insurgents, to prevent peaceful compromise, mutilated and decapitated moderate Muslims and assassinated liberal Europeans.
If one looks at the history of intra-Muslim wars, it becomes clear that the way to "win hearts and minds" is to be more brutal than the other guy.
>The Battle of Algiers ignores France's expensive efforts to buy the hearts and minds of the Arabs and Berbers. Nor does it stress how the insurgents, to prevent peaceful compromise, mutilated and decapitated moderate Muslims and assassinated liberal Europeans.
If one looks at the history of intra-Muslim wars, it becomes clear that the way to "win hearts and minds" is to be more brutal than the other guy.
How does it work with non-Muslims?