Since the end of the Cold War, most armed conflict can be best described as asymmetric--a small, agile group which employs varied and often brutal tactics against a large, well-armed, technologically superior traditional fighting force. Because this trend seems to be growing and spreading geographically, it is increasingly important to understand these unconventional groups, their motivations, and the tactics that they use. Shultz and Dew investigate the history and political climate of today's asymmetrical warfare. Focusing on four regions where this type of fighting is widespread--Chechnya, Somalia, Afghanistan, and Iraq--they probe why these groups fight, how they recruit, the fighting tactics that they use, and how they find support and haven. They also examine what advantage these groups feel that they have and how conventional forces might combat them. This is an academic study, thoroughly researched and referenced, but one which sheds light on current conflict in a systematic and thoughtful way.This book can be found at HECSA Library:
Insurgents, Terrorists, and Militias: The Warriors of Contemporary Combat
Richard H. Schultz Jr. and Andrea J. Dew
U 240 .S34 2006
