The Sling and the Stone: On War in the 21st Century4GW (Fourth Generation Warfare) is the only kind of war America has ever lost. And we have done so three times - in Vietnam, Lebanon, and Somalia. This form of warfare has also defeated the French in Vietnam and Algeria, and the USSR in Afghanistan.As the only Goliath left in the world, we should be worried that the world's Davids have found a sling and stone that work." - Chapter 1, The Sling and the Stone: On War in the 21st Century. The War in Iraq. The War on Terror. These types of "asymmetrical" warfare are the conflicts of the 21st century - and show how difficult it is for the world's remaining superpower to battle insurgents and terrorists who will fight unconventionally in the face of superior military power. This change in military conflict may seem sudden. |
Contents
Four Generations of Warfare | 1 |
The First Two Generations of Modern War | 16 |
Transition to ThirdGeneration Warfare | 23 |
Changes in Society | 32 |
Mao and the Birth of FourthGeneration War | 44 |
The Vietnamese Modification | 56 |
The Sandinista Refinement | 76 |
The Intifada Civilians versus an Army | 89 |
Iraq HighTech versus FourthGeneration | 172 |
Technology Not a Panacea | 190 |
Characteristics of FourthGeneration War | 207 |
Where to from Here? | 224 |
Evaluating the Threat | 246 |
The Future Is Flexibility | 273 |
End Notes | 292 |
| 296 | |
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The Sling and the Stone: On War in the 21st Century Colonel Thomas X. Hammes, USMC No preview available - 2004 |
Common terms and phrases
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