I understand you are speaking of the 1962-1975 Portuguese war in Angola against independentist movements. However, this war did end the same way as the 1954-1962 French war in Algeria against independentists.Endovelico wrote:I participated, for two years, in a successful counterinsurgency war in Angola, and I have a pretty good idea of how important it is to avoid antagonizing the local population.
By "successful counterinsurgency", are you alluding to Portuguese troops winning "on the field" against insurgents? If so, please consider that French forces also won "on the field" and eradicated insurgents. Repeatedly. Then, once they were nearly eradicated in some place... they reconstituted in another. Because the battle for legitimacy had been lost. Hence the decision to throw in the towel. Didn't something similar happen for Portugal in Angola?
That doesn't seem to be any exception to the French in Spain or Algeria / Soviets in Afghanistan / Americans in Vietnam or Iraq / etc. etc. rule.