Asymmetric Warfare Essay

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David Osborn HIST 202 Principles of War Professor Howard J. Fuller Research Essay 2 The use of asymmetric, or irregular, warfare by our adversaries has changed how we fight on today’s modern battlefield and helped to redefine our doctrine. The MacMillian Dictionary defines asymmetric warfare as: Acts of war against countries and ordinary people by individuals or groups who are not part of a country's army. A more globally accepted definition is: War between belligerents whose relative power differs significantly, or whose strategy or tactics differ significantly. This type of warfare, all though not new, has caused Commanders and doctrine writers alike to look for new Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTP) in which to engage this enemy; for their tactics are increasingly unpredictable and irregular. “Future adversaries are more likely to pose irregular threats.” Many tacticians and strategist alike long for the days of a battlefield that was understandable and had symmetry as to the conduct of warfare. This type of war followed a set of rules like the Geneva Convention and with an enemy we knew and the methods and means at their disposal. General Sir Rupert Smith said it best though “It is now time to recognize that a paradigm shift in war has undoubtedly occurred.” As we begin to come to grips with a war that has been protracted now for over ten years, and just reached a milestone of 2,000 killed in action (KIA), some basic questions still remain about our current and future adversaries. Are they state sponsored, an organization, network, movement or ideology that we find ourselves fighting? What are their long term objectives and do they have a Clausewitz type center of gravity, or should we even use the term enemy or just terrorist? If we look to Sun Tzu for a possible answer to these very complex questions we must first know ourselves and what we
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