Pershing and Early Counterinsurgency among Maranao Moros, 1902

Abstract

Chapter 1 examines Pershing’s early implementation of counterinsurgency ideas among Maranao Moros in 1902. He stressed the importance of learning about Maranao culture and political divisions and of applying that learning in alliance building to isolate hostile Moros in an ever-diminishing minority. He set the stage for successful military campaigns to follow. But he also made mistakes in his culturally myopic attempt to impose American concepts of justice on Maranao Moro datus (chiefs). By 1903, he had learned from his mistakes enough to attain the high honor of being elected a datu by Maranao leaders.