counterinsurgency
Reader comment on item: Must Counterinsurgency Wars Fail?

Submitted by stafford (United Kingdom), Sep 14, 2008 at 16:12

the massive military machines of most of the worlds nations cannot truely fight counterinsurgency or even counter terrorist because the training and education of the military is still tied to the land air sea war of the 2oth century.

the formation of the british sas during the 2nd ww as a rapid light armoured division able to move quickly and quietly and attack the enemy like terrorists or insurgents was vital to success in north africa.

after the war the wisdom knowledge and experience was lost as the threat of the cold war shifted resources towards what is now regarded as modern battle tactics large armies armoured divisions and air and sea power.

we need to convince the military machine that less is more. smaller units of specilaised troops, air and armour and perhaps sea forces.

they need to train as insurgents and terrorists inorder to develop the mindset of the enemy, to learn to see as the enemy do and to attack the enemy on his own ground, in his backyard with lethal force.

the israelis have discovered that in fighting hizbolla big army does not work. let us hope that we all learn that less is more.

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