NCJ Number
63170
Date Published
1970
Length
160 pages
Annotation
THEORY AND PRACTICE OF MODERN GUERRILLA WARFARE ARE EXAMINED BY A JOURNALIST WHO HAS COVERED REVOLUTIONS ON TWO CONTINENTS. EXAMPLES FROM CUBA, CHINA, SOUTHEAST ASIA, AND OTHER COUNTRIES ARE PRESENTED.
Abstract
GUERRILLA WARFARE IS THE EXTENSION OF POLITICS BY MEANS OF ARMED CONFLICT. REVOLUTION IS ITS GOAL. GUERRILLA FIGHTERS ARE POLITICAL PARTISANS: ARMED CIVILIANS WHOSE MAIN WEAPONS ARE THEIR RELATIONSHIPS TO THE COMMUNITIES IN AND FOR WHICH THEY FIGHT. THE STRENGTH OF THE GUERRILLAS LIES IN THEIR MOBILITY, FLEXIBILITY, ENDLESS SOURCES OF MANPOWER, AND THE FACT THAT TIME WORKS IN THEIR FAVOR. GUERRILLA WARFARE IS THEREFORE LIKE THE FLEA, WHICH DEFEATS THE MUCH LARGER AND STRONGER DOG THROUGH PERSISTENCE. GUERRILLAS EXPLOIT THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THEIR OPPONENTS' GOAL (DEFEAT OF THE GUERRILLAS) AND NECESSARY MEANS (OVERWHELMING FORCE) TO THE ADVANTAGE OF THE GUERRILLA MOVEMENT. ANALYSES OF THE CONFLICTS IN CUBA, CHINA, VIETNAM, IRELAND, AND ELSEWHERE ILLUSTRATE THESE CONCEPTS AND THE POLITICAL USES OF TERRORISM, THE KEY ROLE PLAYED BY TERRAIN, AND THE STRATEGY OF URBAN GUERRILLA WARFARE. GUERRILLA MOVEMENT FAILURES IN GREECE, PHILIPPINES, AND MALAYA SHOW THAT SEVERING POPULAR CONTACT AND SUPPORT CAN DOOM A GUERRILLA MOVEMENT. THE VIETNAM CONFLICT DEMONSTRATES BOTH THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A GUERRILLA MOVEMENT AND THE FAILURE OF CONVENTIONAL FORCES OR SPECIAL COUNTERINSURGENCY EFFORTS TO DEFEAT IT. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT GUERRILLA WAR IS A NATURAL WEAPON WHICH IMPOVERISHED AND EXPLOITED PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD USE TO ACHIEVE REVOLUTION AND WILL, THEREFORE, INCREASE IN MUCH OF AFRICA, ASIA, ARAB COUNTRIES, AND LATIN AMERICA. BECAUSE OF ITS WEALTH AND POWER, THE U.S. IS FORCED INTO COUNTERREVOLUTIONARY ROLE WITH NO HOPE OF WINNING AGAINST THE INSURGENTS. THE COMING REVOLUTIONS WILL HAVE MAJOR IMPACTS ON U.S. ECONOMIC INTERESTS AND ITS SECURITY. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)