Mahogany Bomber, a very good post.
The UK has been involved in COIN for many years, but that doesn't mean that we practise it well. We have been particularly poor at passing on lessons, not greatly helped by the regimental system where knowledge has, in the past, been power. The only way we passed on lessons was by the occasional pamphlet and by personal experience with the likes of Kitson. The rest was re-learning the old mistakes in the next theatre.
Iraq was a wake up for the UK, along with the publication of FM 3-24 by the US; happily, we have improved significantly and realise the benefit of sharing the experience through education and doctrine. No matter what those doctrine-haters on here like to think (and say more!), doctrine has its place and its absence from COIN in the past has done us no favours.