by venky » Fri 02 Sep 2005, 18:28:34
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('k_semler', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('venky', 'T')he point is are armed citizens any match for a modern army? Wouldn't it just make the invaders or the tyrannical government. come down much harder amongst the civilian population in its efforts to disarm them?
In a conventional warfare setting, yes. But if you consider geurilla warfare, the citizens have the advantage by far. Just take a walk around your town. Notice how many places that provide cover, (or even concealment). In an urban setting in full combat, it is virtually impossible to eliminate all insurgent operations unless a Dresdin or Hiroshima technique is used. Hell, the feds are already having a hard enough time in New Orleans, and they aren't fighting an insurgent force. There it is just a bunch of punks looting, pillaging, and raping. That's not exactly the way to get support from the population for your cause.
Geurilla warfare is just as much about psychologal operations as it is about millitary operations. If you don't have support of the local population, then your end goal will not be reached. Plus, the insurgents have the advantage of having much smaller units, and are able to penetrate into enemy territory with a much less chance of being detected. For the small unit, avoiding a firefight is crucial to your operations when in enemy territory. Also, I would personally rather have somebody adequatly trained with a singleshot .22 rifle on my side, than an untrained person with an M16A2.
I put it to you that a Dresden or Hiroshima technique might be the norm post peak-oil.
Besides look at the ratio in Iraq in the guerilla war., 100000:2000, 50 Iraqi's for every American, ofcourse not that US casualties are insignificant. Maybe the insurgents or militia can inflict substantial losses on the invading or tyrranical force, but they cant defeat it, only hope to outlast it. And the damage on the civilian population will be devastating.
I think pretty much you achieve nothing more than being able to die with 'glory'.