Many readers know Jay Winik, an occasional NR contributor, as the author of the bestselling book April 1865. He’s also something of an expert on guerrilla warfare–the central point of his Civil War book is as that the United States was incredibly fortunate Robert E. Lee chose to surrender at Appomattox rather than head for the hills and lead an underground resistance against federal authority. (It’s one of the best Civil War books published in the last few years–get yourself a copy for Christmas.) At any rate, Jay has an fascinating piece in yesterday’s New York Times on the nature of guerrilla movements, plus some lessons for us today in Iraq. Read it here.