How Not To Fight Terrorism
Nov. 13th, 2007 09:01 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
drewkittyhttp://www.cusa.uci.edu/images/CUSAOP1VanCreveld.pdf
How Not To Fight Terrorism
Martin van Creveld
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
"nothing could make up for the lack of accurate and timely tactical intelligence. Its absence was due partly to cultural obstacles, partly to the physical conditions of the country, and partly to the nature of the war itself . . .
"In private life, an adult person who keeps beating down on a five year old—even such a one as originally attacked him with a knife—will be perceived as committing a crime; therefore he will lose the support of bystanders and end up by being arrested, tried and convicted.
"In international life, an armed force that keeps beating down on a weaker opponent will be seen as committing a series of crimes; therefore it will end up by losing the support of its allies, its own people, and its own troops. Depending on the quality of the forces, the effectiveness of the propaganda machine, and nature of the political process, and so on things may happen quickly or take a long time to mature; however, the outcome is always the same.
"He (or she) who does not understand this does not understand anything about war or, indeed, human nature. Let those with ears to listen, listen!"
How Not To Fight Terrorism
Martin van Creveld
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
"nothing could make up for the lack of accurate and timely tactical intelligence. Its absence was due partly to cultural obstacles, partly to the physical conditions of the country, and partly to the nature of the war itself . . .
"In private life, an adult person who keeps beating down on a five year old—even such a one as originally attacked him with a knife—will be perceived as committing a crime; therefore he will lose the support of bystanders and end up by being arrested, tried and convicted.
"In international life, an armed force that keeps beating down on a weaker opponent will be seen as committing a series of crimes; therefore it will end up by losing the support of its allies, its own people, and its own troops. Depending on the quality of the forces, the effectiveness of the propaganda machine, and nature of the political process, and so on things may happen quickly or take a long time to mature; however, the outcome is always the same.
"He (or she) who does not understand this does not understand anything about war or, indeed, human nature. Let those with ears to listen, listen!"
