question for those with some knowledge about military history/tactics

[bobbieinok]

I just recently heard about Taber's War of the Flea: The Classic Study of Guerilla Warfare.

Customer review at amazon.com--

"Guerrilla warfare eventually transforms itself into revolutionary warfare that engages a civilian population against the established forces in a power struggle by usurping governmental authority. Insurrection usually initiated by a small political faction. ...

....

Counter Insurgency attempts to restore order, protect public and private property, and preserve existing forms by force. Counter Insurgency is designed to destroy the revolutionary force by destroying its purpose. The institution can not win by imitating insurgent tactics because insurgency survival depends on continuous collateral damage. Counter Insurgency requires a military campaign that is sweeping and continuous and cumulative, otherwise, the group will lose.

A governmental institution cannot govern without popular acceptance and consensual participation. The government must seem popular with its people. The government often will make concessions ...

....

Insurgents attack when assured of success by overwhelming superiority of firepower, position, the element of surprise, and only pursuit limited objectives. They use the campaign as an educational tool and propaganda weapon by disclosing the in competency of the enemy build popularity and advancing their cause by discrediting tactics. They send and spread their revolutionary message through social networks; they harass the army on a broader scale, extending the army lines, so defense is weak and exposing small units that can be reduced one at a time. "As it becomes clear that the government can no longer maintain order and cannot suppress the insurrection, the revolutionary tide begins to rise and swell." Insurgents establish bases in areas which the military can no longer control. Insurgents force bring the battle in force to the military. The insurgents' growing force contains and maintains continual pressure on the perimeters and allows them to operate freely .... At this point the insurgency has turned into a civil war.

Insurgent economy is ... supported by the population as prestigious and popular.

Modern society does not like war and more individuals will start asking "when will it end?" The loss of credit and investment suffered by a country engaged in civil war can not carry on indefinitely. An opening has occurred. Insurgents gain by continuing the struggle long term; the fight is necessary for them to survive; they only survive by direct confrontation; and the movement must last long enough to recruit an army capable of defeating a regular army. The insurgents ... must rely on speed, superior position, local superior manpower, and they must break off the engagement before superiority of weapons can take its toll, in a hit and run tactic.

The flea seeks to bite, hops to avoid a smashing foot, and bites again. The insurgent does not seek to kill his enemy at a blow, but to bleed him and feed on him, to plague and bedevil him, to keep him from resting and to destroy his nerve and morale. Insurgent's main source of weapons and munitions comes from his enemy."

*****

Anyone familiar with this book?? Does this describe present Iraq situation?? Is it possible to win against this???

[dkofos]

1. No It is not possible to win against this.

Even if Saddam took back control of the Iraqi govt. he would not be able to fix this mess.

[Solo_in_MD]

2. There are a number of treatisies like this

and they all run along the same lines. However, thier perfect recipie is rarely achievable and all revolutions are different. For example, what worked in Cuba will not work today in South America, and neither will work in the USA

Can we win in the ME is another issue. I am not sure what "win" means. I beleive an exit to a stable government is possible, but who knows how long it will last.

[Taxloss]

3. I can think of one successful counter-insurgency campaign, which beat the guerillas:

The Malayan Emergency, 1948-60. Commonly held as an example of how to do it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malayan_Emergency

Exactly NOT how we tried to pacify Iraq, and the situation was never allowed to get as bad as Iraq is now.