In the last few years counterinsurgency has once again become popular. So called classics of counterinsurgency developed mainly during the wars of national liberation from the end of the Second World War to about 1980 are being dusted off along with the theories that went with them. This article points out that in many ways modern insurgency is different to that experienced in the past, and recommends caution when considering reusing "classic" counterinsurgency strategies because they may not be relevant any more.