5.18.2007
The "insurgent advantage" will continue to destroy us...unless we aren't there
Yet another brilliant analysis from David Brooks in today's NYT, The Insurgent Advantage. Reviewing a book on the new decentralized insurgent paradigm, Brooks goes over the reasons that adaptable decentralized insurgencies are so darn hard to beat, and warns that they will destablize future Bushs, Blairs, and Olmerts.
Of course, what he entirely fails to mention is that these types of insurgencies depend entirely on a basically supportive subject population to act within. So yes, colonialism is doomed. But strikes by insurgents against the "homeland" (9/11, 7/7) do not destablize governments any more than strategic bombing encourages popular revolt against repressive regimes.
By linking anti-colonial "insurgencies" and terrorist acts at home, Brooks and his intellectual mentors/puppetmasters/whatever conflate two distinct military strategies. The first, which will always work, is to make the cost of occupation too high for the occupiers. The second, which will never work, is to effect regime change in a country by scaring the population from outside.
Duh. ¶ 7:24 AM
Of course, what he entirely fails to mention is that these types of insurgencies depend entirely on a basically supportive subject population to act within. So yes, colonialism is doomed. But strikes by insurgents against the "homeland" (9/11, 7/7) do not destablize governments any more than strategic bombing encourages popular revolt against repressive regimes.
By linking anti-colonial "insurgencies" and terrorist acts at home, Brooks and his intellectual mentors/puppetmasters/whatever conflate two distinct military strategies. The first, which will always work, is to make the cost of occupation too high for the occupiers. The second, which will never work, is to effect regime change in a country by scaring the population from outside.
Duh. ¶ 7:24 AM
