From the Director
Our colleague Phil Smith over at the USMC Small Wars Center for Irregular Warfare recently reviewed the book, Arms of Little Value: The Challenge of Insurgency and Global Instability in the Twenty First Century (see here). He notes on Small Wars Journal that the author, G.L. Lamborn is explicit about the lack of understanding of the nature of irregular warfare in America. Lamborn states that “The American society, along with civilian and military leaders remain unprepared to deal with the complexities of insurgencies and small wars.”
Phil Smith writes: “Lamborn peppers his book with poignant questions, in a manner expected in a seminar, framed to educate through cognitive dissonance. What is our response to the overwhelming historic fact that conventional forces have usually outnumbered irregular forces 30-40 times but rarely ‘defeat’ the insurgents politically or strategically? Where in our PME for leaders and planners is the dedicated study to small wars? Why do so many of our leaders still think that firepower, massive force and high technology are keys to winning in small wars? Which of our adversaries present an existential technological or conventional threat to the USA?”
Phil goes on to show that we in America (and especially the US military), “even while we have been engaged in many small wars we have yet to institutionalize, or commit to philosophy and organizational memory the national, strategic and tactical lessons.”
From a national level, it is vital for civilian leaders in the security apparatus to themselves understand history and the nature of irregular challenges so they can properly weigh the advice of their military counterparts when irregular threats and challenges arise. From a military readiness standpoint, it is even MORE important for soldiers to maintain a satisfactory level of knowledge of small wars – to be ready when given the task to plan and execute counterinsurgency operations, stability operations, or security force assistance operations.
Thoughts? Please comment on our blog or email us your ideas: usarmy.leavenworth.cac.mbx.coin@mail.mil.
Thanks for your service.
COL Nestor Sadler, Director
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