Symmetry in warfare

Posted by: tahir

Symmetry in warfare - 11/06/2006 06:39

Rear Adm Harris on the Guantanamo suicides:
"I believe this was not an act of desperation, but an act of asymmetrical warfare waged against us."

What is asymmetrical warfare?
Posted by: rob

Re: Symmetry in warfare - 11/06/2006 12:30

I guess it's when filthy Arab terrorists kill themselves to make America look bad.

..or it could be that the US has totally lost the plot now. They've certainly lost the battle for hearts and minds - those of most of their "allies".

Rob
Posted by: peter

Re: Symmetry in warfare - 12/06/2006 06:15

Quote:
"I believe this was not an act of desperation, but an act of asymmetrical warfare waged against us."

While I don't want to trivialise this horrific remak, which may all by itself be enough to turn the tide of popular opinion in the US against Guantanamo, I can't help being reminded of the Douglas Adams bit where he's explaining that actually mice have been experimenting on humans: "Running the wrong way down a maze, eating the wrong piece of cheese, unexpectedly dropping dead of myxomatosis -- if it's finely calculated, the cumulative psychological effect is enormous".

Peter
Posted by: tahir

Re: Symmetry in warfare - 12/06/2006 07:45

Douglas Adams made a lot of sense. Ever read Last Chance To See?

Not sure if this'll turn the tide of opinion in the US, hope so.
Posted by: peter

Re: Symmetry in warfare - 12/06/2006 11:06

Quote:
Douglas Adams made a lot of sense. Ever read Last Chance To See?

Oh, what a great book! I just lent my copy on Friday to a coworker who's taking a month off later in the year to go and help with monkey conservation. Have you seen Another Chance To See, where they keep track of the subsequent stories of the animals featured? (Basic summary: most of them hanging in there, but baiji dolphins probably game over.)

Peter
Posted by: tahir

Re: Symmetry in warfare - 12/06/2006 11:39

Quote:
Have you seen Another Chance To See, where they keep track of the subsequent stories of the animals featured?


Never even knew it existed, will take a look now, thanks. Was DA ever voted greatest living author?

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/08062006/140/potter-author-best-living-writer.html

Shame the radio series isn't available from the BEEB (AFAIK)
Posted by: wfaulk

Re: Symmetry in warfare - 12/06/2006 22:06

In a "traditional", symmetric, war, you have two sides and each has approximately the same capabilities, strengths, and weaknesses. Asymmetric warfare refers to the fact that one side has a vastly different set of strengths and weaknesses. Basically, in this particular case, the US has a vast, traditional military. They are going to attack and defend in units of soldiers with tanks, firearms, missiles, etc. The Iraqis are going to attack with bombs, booby-traps (or IEDs, apparently, according to today's parlance), and so on.

Another good example of an asymmetric war occurred about 225 years ago. One side was a very traditional military and the other side fought with a series of irregulars and guerillas. It has become known as the American Revolution.
Posted by: tahir

Re: Symmetry in warfare - 13/06/2006 07:40

The suicide of some inmates at Guantanamo is asymmetric to the max then.
Posted by: Tim

Re: Symmetry in warfare - 13/06/2006 11:48

There are really two different definitions of asymmetric warfare, depending on who is doing the defining (from a military or political standpoint). One definition deals with tactics, such as what we know as guerilla warfare.

The other is used more politically, and refers to raw numbers rather than tactics. If a group is vastly overmatched (such as 5:1 or greater for instance), it is also considered asymmetrical.

They tie in to each other though. Generally, the second definition or condition leads to using the tactics in the first. Why they are separate schools of thought is beyond my comprehension.