Posted by
mgraves on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 11:10:07 AM
I remember watching an episode of the Simpsons where the citizens of Springfield drive out the army and Lisa (wow, I'm quoting cartoon characters...) expresses the comment that a determined, local force can overcome a larger and better trained army.
This was supposed to remember Viet Nam (and the current Iraq war). This is the mislearning of history. The U.S. achieved her objectives in Viet Nam: the north was pushed back, a stable government was created in South Viet Nam, and the insurgency's back was broken.
And then Congress stepped in, or rather, did not allow the U.S. to fulfill her treaty obligations to provide air support to the south and an invasion of South Viet Nam condemned hundreds of thousands to re-education camps and the misery of living under communism.
Lessons of Viet Nam
1) The will to win is essential. A nation that lacks the will to win, won't. It's that simple and requires no discussion.
2) Counter-insurgencies last 10-15 years. This is a re-iteration of the lesson of the Malay Rebellion and the Philippine Insurrection. Insurgencies are worn down by being constantly defeated. Allow them no toe-hold (inkspot) and they will wither as the newly established government gains legitimacy and civil society is nourished.
The lesson is not that a determined local force can defeat a larger, more powerful, better trained and better equipped force, but rather that the larger force can defeat itself through its own fecklessness (politically).
No comment on the current conflict until I refrad. I'm doing well. God bless and thanks for the prayers.