Isn't Guerilla War & Terrorism The Only Way To Defeat A Far Superior Military?

Question

I am not making excuses for anybody here.

But wouldn't the Islamic Jihad, Al qaeda and the like be stupid, from a military point of view, to try to confront the American military on a conventional field of battle?
Isn't hit & run, ambush, terrorism, anonymity etc. a more logical choice for them?

It appears to me that the USA/Pentagon learned nothing from Vietnam. They don't seem to have recognized that the same style of warfare they are facing in Iraq, defeated them 35 years ago, and is failing them today.

Answer 1

No.

Answer 2

I do not think that guerilla warfare and terrorism are the only ways to defeat a far superior military. There are always many other factors involved.

For instance:

Yes, America did defeat the British army by guerilla warfare in the War for Independence, but we also had several other advantages. For instance, many British soldiers sympathized with the Americans. They also had relatives living in America and they didn't want to fight those relatives.
And, the Revolutionary War was fought on America's home turf-- and the Americans were also fighting to protect their families and homes. The Americans also had a lot of experienced leaders from the French & Indian War, like George Washington, to head their army, and help from the French.

And,

during the Vietnam War, American troops were forced to essentially fight with their hands tied behind their backs. We had the manpower and the resources to wipe out the NVA and the VC in a matter of weeks. But several politicians did not permit the soldiers to take any offensive measures. And the anti-war attitude at home seriously undermined the soldiers' morale while encouraging the enemy.

Keep in mind that this was during the Cold War, when relations between the free world and the Communist world were strained and extremely touchy. The Presidents in charge during the Vietnam War were afraid of repirsals from China and Russia, so they didn't take any hard-line approach to the Vietnam War. As a result, that war was drawn out much longer than it needed to be, with no one going anywhere... until Nixon finally decided that enough was enough and pulled the troops out.

Now, I'd have to say that the Iraq War is going very well compared to Vietnam and the American War for Independence. The death toll is certainly much, much lower.
Yes, Bush has made his mistakes, and yes, it's going on longer than it should be, but we have seen a lot of progress in just a matter of months. And I think it is irresponsible to pull out of Iraq now, while we still have work to do.

There will always be people who hate America and our military.... does that mean we should abandon the people to their own means simply because a few crazed fanatics blew up a car?
In my opinion, no. These are dangerous people we're talking about and they should be dealt with. And I do not think they stand a chance against our military.

And thus my mini-novel comes to a conclusion.

Answer 3

There is a huge difference between Guerilla Warfare and Terrorism. The primary difference is targeting: military or unarmed civilians.

Al Qaeda was stupid for attacking the Twin Towers.

Answer 4

I am surprised you didn't mention the Soviets in Afghanistan, Remember the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan of 1979? After a bloody decade the Soviets (now mostly Russians) eventually pulled out.

The Soviets didn't suffer the casualties anywhere on the scale they did for World Wars I and II but the main factor was: How long was a major power willing to invest lives, equipment and $$ year after year in a war of attrition to maintain a government in a different land, that didn't seem to directly benefit the people at home?

That my friends, is the question to ask.

Answer 5

I think you don't know what you are writing about. The US did not lose one military battle in Viet Nam. Walter Cronkite and the liberal left wing loonies in the main stream news media sabotaged the war effort because they did not think it was right. The North Vietnamese were on the verge of giving up and got new life from the liberals in the US, like Jane Fonda.

The US has not lost any battles in Iraq. The coalition has defeated their military and demolished Hussein's mad government. People who use terror tactics are criminal terrorists. There is no excuse for them blowing up innocent people. Terrorists have been plaguing Israel for about 60 years. The Israelis have not given up. Nor should you.

Answer 6

Your correct.

In response to those whom think the U.S. won in Vietnam, think again.

Hanoi did not fight a military operation to win; they fought the guerilla tactics to win the political side of the war. And it worked.

No Matter what "type war" you fight, the military is only the muscle to add to your negotiating power when one seeks peace; the nation decides if the "war" is worth the effort to sustain the golas of that high negotiation position.

Al-Queda has killed far less civilians than the U.S. in wars the U.S. felt we "right"; during WW2 German civilian targets were bombed day and nite; Dresden had more civilians killed than Nagasaki and Heroshima combined.

What is causing this war to go on and on is that the U.S. is unwilling to negotiate with "Terrorist"; can anyone define what "Terrorist" means?

Terrorist: " one whom kills innocent civilians for political gain"? That definition would fit any military, Any.

Al-Queda is smart, they have to be. One need not agree with their twisted agenda to see they are fighting the only war they can survive in.

Answer 7

you do know its a lot more complicated than that... you cant just say gorilla warfare is better than a standing Army or the other way round.
What it breaks down too is what side has the support of the civil population without that nothing you do works... ie the current mideast conflict neither side had popular support thus both sides are floundering

Answer 8

You are right. The only way a smaller force can take a big one is by using Guerilla Tactics. We used it against England back in 1775.

Answer 9

No, a tactical Nuke would do the trick. I am sure they could afford a few with all of the oil money.

Answer 10

The USA could defeat these radicals if they weren't fighting a politically correct war.

Answer 11

I guess when you are a poor , cowardly, backward country that is your only chance.