Future post:

Can you bomb away "terrorists"?
Can you destroy an insurgency by military means alone?

My dad gave some example of the British in South East Asia, partnering with a host government to kill off an insurgency, but I need to research this.

These are rhetorical questions. My answer is no. Sri Lanka's government is trying to do just this. All over the world, governing groups who hold the monopoly on power are trying to militarily squelch domestic insurgents trying to challenge this monopoly. This strategy alone is not enough--in tandem with any counter-terrorism the hearts and minds of the majority must be won over.