Countering 4th Generational Warfare:
American Special Operations
Generational Warfare
As one of mankind's oldest occupations, warfare has constantly evolved alongside societies, technologies, economics, and politics. Warfare is never conducted in a vacuum and is the culmination of an entire civilizations enterprises into one violent struggle. The concept of warfare evolving through generations begins with the emergence of the modern nation state. The state could afford to field large armies and the military was the combined effort of the state. The first generation utilized large armies armed with muskets and cannons. Technology limited these armies to large battle lines, volleys of fire, and bayonet charges.1 This type of warfare reached its zenith under Napoleon and in particular his Battle of Waterloo. This style has been named Napoleonic warfare.
Technology is the most visible change in warfare but the changes in European politics and economics set up the evolution from Napoleon into WWI. The machine-gun, the tank, and the airplane are typically pointed to causing the horror of WWI but these changes are simply the most visible. The industrial revolution gave states the ability to mass produce weapons and unleash death on a new scale. The rifle gave the infantry man more accuracy and firepower than the musket. The railroad delivered supplies and men to the battlefront faster than ever before. All these factors created battlefield deaths in the thousands and heralded the second generation of warfare during the American Civil War. This generation is exemplified under the stalemate of the WWI trenches.2 Europe could feed hundreds of bombs and bullets into their war machine and charged thousands of men into the meat grinder.
Just as weapons technology fueled the slaughter of WWI, new weapons were developed to break the stalemate. Mobile warfare featuring masses of tanks and infantry fighting in coordination was already breaking trench warfare. The new mobile units would skirt enemy resistance and strike the enemy weak points. Speed was critical and success depended on adaptability. German Blitzkrieg was the face of third generational warfare and its employment led to victory across Europe in WWII. The Germans mastered it first, the Soviets followed, and the Americans finished it. The Cold War was governed by the fears of Soviet tanks rolling across Western Europe in blitzkrieg fashion.3 America's Cold War army had trained for this highly conventional World War 3 but when they were sent into Vietnam they met destruction.
In Vietnam, the US hit the fourth generation of warfare and it hit back hard. While each generation before it used the benefits of society including politics and economics, 4GW attacks them. Its goal is purely political and its victory can only be won in the political arena. The Cold War revolutions were won in the political arena despite battlefield loses. China became communist, Vietnam became communist, Afghanistan became Islamic. Each world superpower that intervened was defeated because they failed to grasp the new warfare. It is also the same type of warfare in Iraq and Afghanistan. The US Military needs to recognize the new warfare or they will lose again like in Vietnam.
Technology is the most visible change in warfare but the changes in European politics and economics set up the evolution from Napoleon into WWI. The machine-gun, the tank, and the airplane are typically pointed to causing the horror of WWI but these changes are simply the most visible. The industrial revolution gave states the ability to mass produce weapons and unleash death on a new scale. The rifle gave the infantry man more accuracy and firepower than the musket. The railroad delivered supplies and men to the battlefront faster than ever before. All these factors created battlefield deaths in the thousands and heralded the second generation of warfare during the American Civil War. This generation is exemplified under the stalemate of the WWI trenches.2 Europe could feed hundreds of bombs and bullets into their war machine and charged thousands of men into the meat grinder.
Just as weapons technology fueled the slaughter of WWI, new weapons were developed to break the stalemate. Mobile warfare featuring masses of tanks and infantry fighting in coordination was already breaking trench warfare. The new mobile units would skirt enemy resistance and strike the enemy weak points. Speed was critical and success depended on adaptability. German Blitzkrieg was the face of third generational warfare and its employment led to victory across Europe in WWII. The Germans mastered it first, the Soviets followed, and the Americans finished it. The Cold War was governed by the fears of Soviet tanks rolling across Western Europe in blitzkrieg fashion.3 America's Cold War army had trained for this highly conventional World War 3 but when they were sent into Vietnam they met destruction.
In Vietnam, the US hit the fourth generation of warfare and it hit back hard. While each generation before it used the benefits of society including politics and economics, 4GW attacks them. Its goal is purely political and its victory can only be won in the political arena. The Cold War revolutions were won in the political arena despite battlefield loses. China became communist, Vietnam became communist, Afghanistan became Islamic. Each world superpower that intervened was defeated because they failed to grasp the new warfare. It is also the same type of warfare in Iraq and Afghanistan. The US Military needs to recognize the new warfare or they will lose again like in Vietnam.
4th Generational Warfare
The danger of 4GW does not lie in battlefield capabilities, body counts, or tactical victories but in the realm of politics. The military of the superpowers have always been under civilian leadership and these civilian leaders are the targets. As victory is achieve in the political realm, the enemy leaders need to be convinced that they cannot win militarily and diplomacy is the only solution. The most common tactic is to convince the enemy populace that military victory is impossible. The civilians will then call for the end of conflict. This brings victory to the insurgency.
While insurgencies and guerrilla warfare has existed as long as warfare, it has never before won wars and established permanent states. The first appearance came during the communist revolution in China. Under the leadership of Mao Zedong, the communist guerrillas won the hearts and minds of the local villages and undermined nationalist control. They grew their power bases and then acted out of these positions of strength into the countryside. They continued their insurgent tactics and worked to destroy nationalist support. When the nationalists attacked, the guerrillas disappeared. They knew that survival was more important than land, they would retreat to strongholds and fight another day. When the nationalists left, the guerrillas returned. As the communist power grew they launched deadlier attacks on the nationalists. After the guerrillas were strong enough, he led them in a conventional attack on the weakened nationalists and destroyed them. 4
Vietnam saw the same strategy. the Viet Minh fought the French forces slowly weakening and spreading them out. The French attempted to destroy the guerrillas at Dien Bien Phu but the Viet Minh cut the base off and destroyed them with conventional forces. The French left in humiliation. The US then intervened. The Viet Cong followed the battle plan again, striking at weaknesses and running from strengths. The US failed to adapt and as casualties mounted, public support dropped. They were losing the home front and losing the political field. The US sued for withdrawal in the Paris Peace Talks. The communists continued their attack on South Vietnam and without US support they were losing the battle. While most of the guerrillas were defeated, the North Vietnamese Army overran the south and captured the country. 5
4th Generational Warfare is the only combat that the US has lost and it is not alone. Today the US is fighting a 4GW enemy in Afghanistan and has defeated a 4GW in Iraq. Their adaptation to the battlefield comes from a direct understanding of 4GW concepts. This begins by understanding the nature of the enemy forces. As an unconventional force, the insurgents rely on a network of individuals and connections for communication and execution. 6 There are very little signals intelligence, few intercepted radio calls and no telegrams and official orders. Human Intelligence is the game and the only way to counter it is to get men on the ground and working with the same locals the enemy is. Once the US has recognized the enemy and understands how they operate and think, they can better destroy them.
The next step is to deny the insurgents targets of opportunity. This means providing security and police actions around sensitive areas and targets. 7 Eventually these roles will be taken over by trained local forces. This piece also relies on getting men into the field and operating among the locals. Troops bringing security prevent relapses in the insurgency and keep local populations safe. They provide services to the locals and help them build or rebuild business and get their lives back. This helps win the hearts and minds and prevents the growth of more insurgents.
Maximizing these gains relies on the ability to communicate and coordinate between units and services. Intelligence from one battlefield must be relayed to all concerned units and must transcend the traditional chain of command. There can be no governmental red tape. The CIA, the State Department, and the Defense Department are all fighting for the same team and they need to work together. Insurgencies don't allow for egos and competition and inter-service rivalries must be put aside for the mission.
Adaptability is the key to victory and history shows the men who adapt faster are the ones who overcome. The US military has a history of individuals and units taking the initiative and asking for forgiveness later. These are the ones who emerged victorious and the same character of warrior is needed to triumph in today's battlefield. The US Military contains several distinct units that study, adapt, and overcome any challenge before them and they are already emerging victorious against the insurgencies in Iraq and Afghanistan.
While insurgencies and guerrilla warfare has existed as long as warfare, it has never before won wars and established permanent states. The first appearance came during the communist revolution in China. Under the leadership of Mao Zedong, the communist guerrillas won the hearts and minds of the local villages and undermined nationalist control. They grew their power bases and then acted out of these positions of strength into the countryside. They continued their insurgent tactics and worked to destroy nationalist support. When the nationalists attacked, the guerrillas disappeared. They knew that survival was more important than land, they would retreat to strongholds and fight another day. When the nationalists left, the guerrillas returned. As the communist power grew they launched deadlier attacks on the nationalists. After the guerrillas were strong enough, he led them in a conventional attack on the weakened nationalists and destroyed them. 4
Vietnam saw the same strategy. the Viet Minh fought the French forces slowly weakening and spreading them out. The French attempted to destroy the guerrillas at Dien Bien Phu but the Viet Minh cut the base off and destroyed them with conventional forces. The French left in humiliation. The US then intervened. The Viet Cong followed the battle plan again, striking at weaknesses and running from strengths. The US failed to adapt and as casualties mounted, public support dropped. They were losing the home front and losing the political field. The US sued for withdrawal in the Paris Peace Talks. The communists continued their attack on South Vietnam and without US support they were losing the battle. While most of the guerrillas were defeated, the North Vietnamese Army overran the south and captured the country. 5
4th Generational Warfare is the only combat that the US has lost and it is not alone. Today the US is fighting a 4GW enemy in Afghanistan and has defeated a 4GW in Iraq. Their adaptation to the battlefield comes from a direct understanding of 4GW concepts. This begins by understanding the nature of the enemy forces. As an unconventional force, the insurgents rely on a network of individuals and connections for communication and execution. 6 There are very little signals intelligence, few intercepted radio calls and no telegrams and official orders. Human Intelligence is the game and the only way to counter it is to get men on the ground and working with the same locals the enemy is. Once the US has recognized the enemy and understands how they operate and think, they can better destroy them.
The next step is to deny the insurgents targets of opportunity. This means providing security and police actions around sensitive areas and targets. 7 Eventually these roles will be taken over by trained local forces. This piece also relies on getting men into the field and operating among the locals. Troops bringing security prevent relapses in the insurgency and keep local populations safe. They provide services to the locals and help them build or rebuild business and get their lives back. This helps win the hearts and minds and prevents the growth of more insurgents.
Maximizing these gains relies on the ability to communicate and coordinate between units and services. Intelligence from one battlefield must be relayed to all concerned units and must transcend the traditional chain of command. There can be no governmental red tape. The CIA, the State Department, and the Defense Department are all fighting for the same team and they need to work together. Insurgencies don't allow for egos and competition and inter-service rivalries must be put aside for the mission.
Adaptability is the key to victory and history shows the men who adapt faster are the ones who overcome. The US military has a history of individuals and units taking the initiative and asking for forgiveness later. These are the ones who emerged victorious and the same character of warrior is needed to triumph in today's battlefield. The US Military contains several distinct units that study, adapt, and overcome any challenge before them and they are already emerging victorious against the insurgencies in Iraq and Afghanistan.