Koevoet: Experiencing South Africa's Deadly Bush War Paperback – February 15, 2013

Combat Journalist & the CrowbarThis book "Koevoet: Experiencing South Africa's Deadly Bush War" by Jim Hooper an American journalist/combat correspondent given access to cover Koevoets combat operations in the bushveld of the northern portion of the then South West Africa (now Namibia) and Angola. This unit is officially known as the South West Africa Police Counter-Insurgency Unit, which operated predominantly in South-West Africa. This outfit was the most effective paramilitary unit deployed against South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) fighters, during the South African Border War and is accredited with more SWAPO kills then the South African Defense Force. This book does an excellent and unbiased job at describing the horrors of this guerrilla war, with a particular interest toward the savage tactics used against each other by both sides of the conflict. These graphic details compounded with the human side of the story intertwining patriotism, heroism, brotherhood, honor and the dedication of these men in combat make this book an all-around great military read for all. Additionally, there are many lessons to be learned from this text on counterinsurgency tactics, techniques and procedures that are just as relevant today in the current global war on terrorism that military personnel will find enlightenment. I will also state that if you have read the first edition South African release "Koevoet!" and/or the United States released edition (2nd edition) "Beneath the Visiting Moon: Images of Combat in Southern Africa" that this current title truly is an updated and expanded edition. I personally have all three editions, and went back and looked at them side-by-side and there is significant changes to this edition. I also found this edition has much more personal information on many of the topics discussed in the book, as well as extensive background information on Jim Hooper. Overall, anyone interested in the South African bush wars, counterinsurgency and military history in general on this book of interest.

Strategic messaging, psychological operations and black propaganda can be considered conflict communication control methods across a spectrum from hard truth to cold lies. Jim Hooper is a US journalist, writing for a British publication, who embedded with a South African counterinsurgency unit fighting against Namibia’s rebel group, SWAPO. SWAPO operated both in Namibia and Angola with overt support from the Cubans and Russians. The South West Africa Police Counterinsurgency unit, nicknamed Koevoet (Afrikaans for “crowbar”), was 90 percent black African. The majority of black African Koevoet were Ovambo, the same ethnic group which made up the majority of SWAPO’s own rebel militias and leadership (Kindle location 1123). The other black African Koevoet members hailed from a number of other Namibian and Angolan ethnic groups to include disbanded and current Angolan rebel groups against the Angolan ruling MPLA party.In the context of the cold war, the South African military and the Koevoet were fighting against communist influence in their protectorate Southwest Africa (Namibia), which had been a South African province since the German loss in WWI. However, especially after a UN resolution supporting Namibia’s independence, Namibia was considered one of the last African colonies still under white colonial domination; in this case a white apartheid, racist, government. What follows is a history of a war with a fascinatingly complex political, social and cultural entanglement that no one side could easily wrap in an ethically concise manner, but whose landscape is ripe for everything from honest strategic messaging to downright black propaganda. Jim Hooper, during his 1986-1987 embed with Koevoet, reveals events that should spark questions from all sides and in the end, explain a code of war and brotherhood any side, enemy or friendly, is often loath to admit.Victors write the history books, but the cold war’s losers of proxy wars could also be found on the side of the overall victor. What history of loss do these victories write, read… or ignore? Hooper begins his assignment with Koevoet assuming the same negative stereotypes against the Koevoet unit and its master, the South African government. Koevoet were said to be bloodthirsty, uneducated and perhaps deranged counterinsurgency troops perfect for their ‘immoral mission’. Hooper never apologizes for the apartheid government but leads the reader through his own journey revealing a Koevoet unit with sincere motives, and for most, a valid personal viewpoint of their place in the southwest African chaos of propaganda. What replaces Hooper’s condemnation of Koevoet is not blanket support, however, but instead loyalty, in brotherhood fashion, to a group of fighters with whom he bonded, made contact with the enemy and even experienced loss of life.Koevoet is not meant to be an exoneration of South African policies. In a way, the author’s intense interaction with Koevoet reveals a side of war, especially guerrilla wars on the edge of larger competitions for global influence, rarely expressed or understood. In wars for hearts and minds, counterinsurgency, it is possible that all sides have their personal valid reasons for lending active support. In the case of the innocent civilians, they would nimbly choose sides according to immediate advantage or perceived long-term stability. Hooper’s analysis of the war disagrees with those who held a one-sided unquestioned support for SWAPO, whom Hooper concludes were ruthless in their own right, cheating local populations, local politics and international law.The narrative expressed by Hooper could also be expanded beyond the cold war context reaching back into imperialist history. The history of colonialism in Africa documents a divide and conquer strategy in many regions. To claim that SWAPO was overwhelmingly Ovambo and barely represented the ethnic groups of middle and southern Namibia is true in fact but not in spirit. The Koevoet/SWAPO guerilla warfare sowed distrust and chaos within in the civilian population as both sides sought to intimidate civilians into supporting their respective sides. Hooper contends that South Africa simply wanted a stable Namibia and a Namibian government that was free from communist bullying at the start of their independence. Many Namibians wanted neither Russian nor South African support. “I don’t want the racist white Namibian regime and we shouldn’t have to trade one white master for another. But we also shouldn’t have to choose communism….”Hooper’s account of Koevoet is also valuable for its description of Koevoet tactics; enlisting local Ovambo tracking expertise to follow suspected SWAPO fighters over dozens, sometimes hundreds of miles. South Africa’s military equipment was specialized for this specific type of bush warfare and their close ground and air integration something of a novelty in the 1980s. But what impressed Hooper most was the comradery between all Koevoet members, black, white, officer, enlisted. While the white Afrikaans-speaking officers worked the truck mounted guns, they were also the most obvious targets for enemy fire. Unit medics, CASEVAC and defensive postures never biased one ethnicity over another. It was in observation of Koevoet comradery that Hooper exclaimed, “But if it’s happening so easily in the military, why can’t the same thing happen at the same time outside – in the civilian life? (kindle location 871)”I’ve seen journalists give military members too much credit, not enough credit and least often, the exact credit for the context. Most often, the error is a context that is completely skewed to one side. Koevoet was a counterterrorism unit like many others who fight on varying sides of rebel, independent, government and terrorist factions. In wars like these, sometimes it is less about who wins but how reconciliation is achieved. South Africa’s truth and reconciliation commission accounted for a number of the alleged atrocities committed on all sides and to a limited extent, provided an honorable entry back in to society for especially the black African members of Koevoet who fought on the “wrong” side. It’s hard to imagine such a reconciliation in Yemen, Syria, Afghanistan or Libya today (noting the context of inter-Arab ideological competition and greater Persian-Arab rivalry). Despite propaganda one way or the other, the fighters will want to come home. They will need to come home, and there are very few who understand the comradery, pain and stress experienced in the profession of arms; especially that of a guerrilla unit, on the wrong side of history.

A very good and authentic account of counter-insurgency operations in South West Africa (now Namibia). As one who was involved in that conflict, it rang true to me.

From the high of being the first ever foreign reporter to be embedded with Koevoet, officially ops K to the disappointment of going on patrol with no action, to the first contact. The author managed to paint a picture of his experiences so vivid that one can see the dust, feel the shock waves from exploding mortars , rifle grenades, hear the staccato of small arms firing on full auto interspersed with the sounds of heavy machine guns and the odd 20mm cannon.Twice wounded during his embedded time, the author displays a unique ability to retain his objectivity and report the truth as he experienced it . Never caving to political correctness or sugar coating the realities of combat. In that little known war, people fought, got wounded and died. Friendships were shaped and bonds forged. Throughout the book the author tells his story with a self deprecating humor that causes the reader to laugh with him , not at him. This is a must read for any aficionado of war tales and specifically anyone with an interest in Africa with it's bloody history.The follow up describing what happened to some of the warriors after the war ended is a measure of depth of how deeply the author got involved. His commitment and ability to tell his story rates right up there with Hemmingway. Written by someone who was there, this book is a great read and will take a proud place on any bookshelf. Buy it!