Re: [GZG] FTverse colinies

["John Atkinson" <johnmatkinson@xxxxxxxxx>]

On Sun, May 11, 2008 at 9:20 PM, Tony Wilkinson <twilko@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>  True enough but then how often do "insurgents" not have outside help?

As far as I know, once in human history.

>  Don't forget too that the Soviets did deploy quite a few special forces
> units (mostly if not entirely Spetznaz, possibly some interior ministry
> types) and still lost numerous small engagements.

Look, this is my impressed face.

Soviet Special Forces---when you absolutely, positively, have to kill
someone with a thrown hatchet backflip.

Their operational history makes me think of them as assclowns, don't mind me.

> that is still a major historical debate. The US pulled out of Vietnam but it
> was in no way collapsing. And yes the irregulars were being backed by NVA,
> but not to fight major engagements until the last year or two with one
> exception. Insurgents, guerrilias, rebels, freedom fighters, assymetricals,
> whatever don't win by fighting major battlefield engagements, they win by
> making it politically untenable for the major power to stay.

You're wrong on Vietnam, actually.  NLF forces were not a factor after
1968, and PAVN was heavily involved before then as well.

>  If you want a battlefield example then the early stages of the Tet
> offensive. Yes the US "won" but it was touch and go for a while.

Tactically, nope.  Nowhere.

John
-- 
"Thousands of Sarmatians, Thousands of Franks, we've slain them again
and again. We're looking for thousands of Persians."
--Vita Aureliani

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