Paper Trail Pro Podcast

Podcast 2: General Frank Kitson – War Hero or Director of Terrorism?

In the second of the Paper Trail Pro Podcasts, author Ciarán MacAirt discusses the legacy of General Frank Kitson.

Brigadier Frank Kitson 1970 - 1972General Frank Kitson (right) is a renowned British Army military strategist and counter-insurgency expert. His books include Gangs and Counter-Gangs and Low Intensity Operations: Subversion, Insurgency and Peacekeeping.

Kitson was last deployed to the north of Ireland as Brigadier in charge of 39 Brigade and ran British military operations and intelligence in the Greater Belfast area from 1970 t0 1972, a crucial juncture in the conflict. Ciarán MacAirt argues that he laid the blue-print for how Britain was to wage its war during and after his tenure.

In-depth interrogation, psychological operations, pseudo-gangs and the murder of civilians were features of this counter-insurgency strategy. We are still dealing with its legacy to this day. (Part 1/2 Podcasts)

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This podcast is based on the author’s own book and his discovery of a secret paper written by then Brigadier Kitson on the day of the McGurk’s Bar Massacre. Read it here…

In Memoriam: Jean Smyth-Campbell

Belated Police Investigation Into MRF Is Window-Dressing

Download the secret Kitson paper: Future Developments in Belfast (PDF)

Listen to Podcast 3: General Frank Kitson – War Hero or Director of Terrorism? Part 2/2

 

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