tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18399778.post116660906749714242..comments2023-10-28T15:20:05.754+02:00Comments on Islam in Europe - Commentary by Snouck: Our future: The Middle AgesSnouckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04337065305817263551noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18399778.post-1166805342600297622006-12-22T17:35:00.000+01:002006-12-22T17:35:00.000+01:00A good explanation of how non-western forces count...A good explanation of how non-western forces counter American superior hardware is :<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/Phantom-Soldier-Enemys-Answer-Firepower/dp/0963869558" REL="nofollow">phantom soldier</A> by H. John Poole. <BR/><BR/>An eye opener with regards to some aspects (battle field mobility, surprise) of Hizbollah's recent successes in South Lebanon.<BR/><BR/>It describes mostly Japanese, Chinese and Vietnamese tactics in countering the Americans, but these tactics have succesfully been adapted by the Jihadists.Snouckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04337065305817263551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18399778.post-1166738511418659592006-12-21T23:01:00.000+01:002006-12-21T23:01:00.000+01:00The abbreviation RMA stands for Revolution in Mili...The abbreviation RMA stands for Revolution in Military Affairs. A hip term for the new technological advances in military affairs that became popular after the enormously one-sided American victory in the first Gulf War.<BR/><BR/>You point out that IT does not give the West the edge in war far. I agree, it’s not about technology; it’s about adapting to the new paradigms that they offer. So far, the Islamic forces seem very much more adaptive that the West.<BR/><BR/>You wrote you looked forward to my "the sling and the stone" review. But I cannot guarantee that one. All those new books on my booklist look very interesting. If I only had the time for all of them ;-)Ferdyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15026627406258164317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18399778.post-1166689794683648062006-12-21T09:29:00.000+01:002006-12-21T09:29:00.000+01:00What is RMA?Van Creveld's critique of Clauzewitzea...What is RMA?<BR/><BR/>Van Creveld's critique of Clauzewitzean war is very fundamental. IT is mostly useful for Command, Control and Comms (C3). Non-Clausewitzean forces such as Hizbollah use C3 with great deftness. Technology does not give a western force and edge in the struggle.<BR/><BR/>I saw that "the sling and the stone" was on your booklist and look forward to your review.<BR/><BR/>Regards,<BR/><BR/>SnouckSnouckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04337065305817263551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18399778.post-1166663034812901692006-12-21T02:03:00.000+01:002006-12-21T02:03:00.000+01:00What a coincidence I just read the new book “War M...What a coincidence I just read the new book “War Made New” from Max Boot. In the book Boot described the history of transformations in warfare. Basically illustrating that RMA is noting new. His point is that we should transform the military to the new way of decentralized fighting now made possible by the new IT technologies. He argues, quite convincing I think, that failing to adjust to fighting these ‘small’ wars can be very lethal for the West.<BR/><BR/>My short review of the book, in Dutch, can be found here:<BR/>http://leestafel.blogspot.com/2006/12/war-made-new.htmlFerdyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15026627406258164317noreply@blogger.com