Beating Goliath: Why Insurgencies WinBeating Goliath examines the phenomenon of victories by the weak over the strong--more specifically, insurgencies that succeeded against great powers. Jeffrey Record reviews eleven insurgent wars from 1775 to the present and determines why the seemingly weaker side won. He concludes that external assistance correlates more consistently with insurgent success than any other explanation. He does not disparage the critical importance of will, strategy, and strong-side regime type or suggest that external assistance guarantees success. Indeed, in all cases, some combination of these factors is usually present. But Record finds few if any cases of unassisted insurgent victories except against the most decrepit regimes. Having identified the ingredients of insurgent success, Record examines the present insurgency in Iraq and whether the United States can win. In so doing, Record employs a comparative analysis of the Vietnam War and the Iraq War. He also identifies and assesses the influence of distinctive features of the American way of war on the U.S. forces' performance against the Iraqi insurgency. Make no mistake: insurgent victories are the exception, not the rule. But when David does beat Goliath, the consequences can be earth shattering and change the course of history. Jeffrey Record's persuasive logic and clear writing make this timely book a must read for scholars, policymakers, military strategists, and anyone interested in the Iraq War's outcome. |
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Стр. 5
In 1965, U.S. ambassador to South Vietnam (and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff) Maxwell Taylor marveled, “The ability of the Vietcong continuously to rebuild their units and make good their losses is one of the mysteries of ...
In 1965, U.S. ambassador to South Vietnam (and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff) Maxwell Taylor marveled, “The ability of the Vietcong continuously to rebuild their units and make good their losses is one of the mysteries of ...
Стр. 6
The Tet Offensive was a military disaster from which the Vietcong never recovered because Communist forces came out in the open and tried to take and hold fixed positions, thereby exposing themselves to crushing U.S. firepower.
The Tet Offensive was a military disaster from which the Vietcong never recovered because Communist forces came out in the open and tried to take and hold fixed positions, thereby exposing themselves to crushing U.S. firepower.
Стр. 8
... of conventional forces, such as those of the United States, whereas reliance on superior cost-tolerance,” best measured as “losses of life . . . relative to population size . . . is typical of guerrilla forces such as the Viet Cong.
... of conventional forces, such as those of the United States, whereas reliance on superior cost-tolerance,” best measured as “losses of life . . . relative to population size . . . is typical of guerrilla forces such as the Viet Cong.
Стр. 14
The Communist-led insurgency in post–World War II Greece made this mistake, as did the Vietcong in mounting the Tet Offensive in 1968. Tet was a military calamity for the Vietcong because it sought to take and hold ground against vastly ...
The Communist-led insurgency in post–World War II Greece made this mistake, as did the Vietcong in mounting the Tet Offensive in 1968. Tet was a military calamity for the Vietcong because it sought to take and hold ground against vastly ...
Стр. 18
Indeed, in Vietnam, but for the North's conventional military intervention, the Communists almost certainly would have lost the war in South Vietnam; by 1970–71 the Vietcong insurgency had been broken by a combination of horrendous ...
Indeed, in Vietnam, but for the North's conventional military intervention, the Communists almost certainly would have lost the war in South Vietnam; by 1970–71 the Vietcong insurgency had been broken by a combination of horrendous ...
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Содержание
1 | |
23 | |
Vietnam Perspectives | 67 |
War Without Politics | 103 |
Search and Destroy | 117 |
6 Conclusion | 131 |
Notes | 139 |
Glossary | 159 |
Bibliography | 161 |
Index | 175 |
About the Author | 180 |
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administration Afghanistan al Qaeda Algeria American army’s Arreguin-Toft artillery asymmetric conflicts attacks Baathist British Bush casualties China Chinese Communist Clausewitz colonies conventional military counterinsurgency decisive defeat Defense democracies democratic effective enemy enemy’s external assistance factors failed fight firepower foreign help France French Goliath guerrilla warfare Hanoi Ibid Indochina insurgency’s intervention invasion Iraq War Iraq’s Iraqi insurgency irregular warfare JEFFREY RECORD leadership Lebanon Mack Malayan Malayan Emergency Merom militarily military forces military operations military victory Nationalist North numbers outcome PAVN Pentagon People’s percent population protracted Qaeda regime regular Saddam Shia side’s South Vietnam Soviet Union Soviet-Afghan Soviet-Afghan War Spanish strategy strength stronger side success Sunni Arab superior tactical terrorism terrorist Tet Offensive threat tion troops U.S. Army U.S. combat U.S. forces U.S. military United University Press Viet Vietcong Vietminh Vietnam War Vietnamese Vietnamese Communists waging war’s Washington weaker side weapons withdrawal York