In the last 50 years, the US military has been engaged in two large scale counterinsurgency campaigns. One campaign took place over 40 years ago and one is presently ongoing. In both of these counterinsurgency campaigns, the US Military's cultural awareness or lack of it greatly affected the outcome of the past campaign, and if not recognized for its importance, could cause a negative outcome in the present conflict. The two campaigns that will be compared and contrasted with the focus of cultural awareness or lack of it are Vietnam, and the presently ongoing Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.