Asymetric warfare

Submitted by J. Keen Holland (United States), Aug 16, 2006 at 02:20

Dr. Pipes has given us his usual insightful analysis. What I would add is the need to see conflicts now in terms of asymetric warfare. Other powers have seen for some time that technology multiplying forces gives a decided edge to one side in most regions of conflict. Those on the short end have been giving a great deal of thought and planning to asymetric warfare.

Iraq, after its total failure in the campaign to liberate Kuwait to even slow down an offensive by the US and its allies which had been prepared right before their eyes simply folded up in the second war with the US and buried much of its weaponry for later use by irregular forces. Chinese officers have published books and articles on asymetric warfare recognizing that a replay of the Korean War tactic of throwing over two million infantry into the line would only make their forces easier to annihilate.

Attacking computers, satellites, UAVs will be among the key factors in the next war. In the current war in Lebanon, Hizbollah's exploitation of "victim" status is a part of their asymetric warfare strategy. Even with their fair level of success in killing Israeli tanks, they know they are no match for Israel in any kind of set piece battle. Hizbollah must, therefore, continue to fight by the death of a thousand cuts. Let Israelis long for "normalcy." Let Israel's few allies tire of cutting and trimming their own foreign policies to make room for Israel's security needs. At some point, they are confident, they will get much of what they want handed to them. In the meantime, they are the rulers of a large section of Lebanon.

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