Force Asymmetry in Low Intensity Conflict or How to Beat the Enemy at His OwnGame

摘要

The U.S. military will most likely be involved in numerous MOOTW and lowintensity conflicts in the coming years. The operational commander will have to design an operational plan to counter smaller, weaker forces (relative to U.S. power) that possess the military and political advantage of fighting in their country, among their own people. To operate successfully, the weaker force must subscribe to specific principles of war that have been successfully used by insurgents guerrillas in many low intensity conflicts. This paper analyzes these principles and proposes an operational strategy for the operational commander to counter the unique, deadly strategy of the insurgent. The Boer War between Great Britain and the South Africa republics of 1899-1902 and the Insurgent movement in China led by Mao Tse-Tung are used as examples of successful insurgent movements.