European readers of The Fourth Generation Warfare Handbook may wonder why much of the latter part of the book is devoted to true light (or Jaeger) infantry. The reason is that the U.S. armed forces mis-define light infantry as line infantry with less equipment. This false definition leads the Americans to think they have light infantry when in fact they do not. Because true light infantry are usually 4GW forces’ most dangerous opponents, this leaves the U.S. largely disarmed in this kind of war. Its fall-back of massive firepower literally blows up in its face at the moral level, ensuring its defeat. (The closest thing the U.S. has to true light infantry is probably the Marine Scout/Snipers. According to one report from Afghanistan, the Taliban refer to the Scout/Snipers as “The Marines who are well-trained.” The Pashtun are, and long have been, some of the world’s best light infantry.)
-William S. Lind
Lind, a longtime lecturer to the armed
forces on the topic of small units for small wars(and the original
codification of the 4GW concept), has explained an interesting point.
One that I don’t entirely agree nor disagree with, however one that must
be examined from the Patriot’s standpoint.
More @ Brushbeater
You mean I don't have to carry my house on my back anymore? Thank god
ReplyDelete:)
DeleteAn unimportant distinction. The US Army defines it's light infantry to be what it has as the term "light" is not owned by Mr Lind, or some UN Diction committee. For the US Army, "light" is simply a way to distinguish them from "mechanized" or "motorized" (Stryker Brigades). The US Army has no doctrinal purpose to build units that can blend with the population. They are forbidden by our constitution and from international law from attempting to do so. If the need were to arise it would have to be preceded by a full scale overthrow of the US government in a significant part of the US territory. That is something we could quickly adapt to if needed. Otherwise, it is a capability that simply isn't needed.
ReplyDeletePashtunes can blend with the population only in one place on Earth, Afghanistan, and not everywhere there. It is impractical to build specialized forces capable of blending everywhere, just in case they are needed. Even in the simple case of specializing black troop for Africa, you could not use American blacks because they are too light skinned and won't blend. Then there is the civil rights problems of assigning black troops to shit hole duty in Africa where the white troops get to go train in Sweden, Iceland, and New Zealand.
If blending is meant to become indistinguishable to the local population, I agree. I think in terms of the SF and some Marine units who lived among villages and MEDCAP ones also. (Vietnam)
DeleteHelping the locals and living among them is not even close to "blending" with them. Not even if they intermarry. There are very few operators around the world who can pull it off outside their own populations. Cities make it easier since there are a higher percentage of foreigners there naturally. But a German setting up a bakery is Poland will stand out like a very tall nail at the hammering championships. That is why when we need spies, we always recruit locals, and not try to train outsiders to do it.
DeleteAs I stated: "If blending is meant to become indistinguishable to the local population, I agree."
DeleteI'm not arguing. I'm reinforcing. :-)
DeleteI guess we don't have to choose seconds after all...........:)
DeleteI have been reading about 4GW over at Vox Day's blog. He maintains that the Big Powers can't win a war any more because they don't have the will (or smarts?) to abandon the old WW2 model with all the expensive sophisticated oftentimes useless weaponry that brings $$$$$$$$$$ to the crony corporatists and fascists in Govt., not to mention the Global bankers who profit handsomely on the debt created by the War machine.
ReplyDeleteThe "collateral damage" in 4GW is impossible to avoid because this is guerilla warfare with the enemy imbedded in the civilian population. Obviously no one learned from Vietnam, or did they learn that quagmires are way cool for running up debt and trying out new weapons on "those people." Obama and Bush before him tied our troops hands behind their back just to make it "fair." If you are not trying to win a war, please don't start/continue the war. Now we are in wars that do way more damage than good for those we are supposed to be helping. America is not winning friends and influencing people any more, including me, with this behavior. Meanwhile, back at the Ranch, the wolves are running into our country unabated. So, we all better be prepared for a 4GW right here in our own backyards of the soon-to-be former USA.
If you are not trying to win a war, please don't start/continue the war.
DeleteAmen and winning wars against true Communist countries is difficult,unless our country itself was truly in danger, as they will sacrifice as many as it takes in order to win.