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
4GW enemy 4GW techniques action Afghan Afghanistan al-Aqsa Intifada al-Qaeda American Arab Arafat areas army attacks bombing British bureaucracy campaign CBIRF China coalition command Communists concept conflict continued conventional forces cyberwar defeat defense Despite develop economic effective efforts elements ensure essential evolved fact fight focus focused fourth-generation goals guerrilla HUMINT insurgents Intifada Iraq Iraqi Islamic Israel Israeli Kabul Laden leaders leadership Likud major Mao's military move mujahideen nation Network-Centric Warfare North North Korea Northern Alliance occupied territories officers operations opponents organizations Oslo accords Palestinians Pashtun personnel system phase political regime response revolution Sandinistas Saudi Saudi Arabia shift simply society Somalia South South Vietnam Soviet strategic struggle tactical Taliban target terrorist threat tinians tion tribal U.S. forces understand Unfortunately United Vietnam Vietnamese warfare weapons West Bank worldwide