Mao Is An Insurgent Rock Star

MAJ Ken Landgren — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 16:24:30 -0400

This applies to the American Revolution, Chinese Revolution, Afghanistan and Iraq. Unfortunately history repeats itself.

Mao Tse Tung the Chinese Revolutionary enumerated steps to a successful insurgency:

1. An elite in society will be the leader of a cause.
2. He builds a cadre around him.
3. They recruit from disenfranchised people.
4. They start satisfying societal needs.
5. They fight asymmetrical engagements.
6. The insurgents grow in to a conventional size army.
7. The insurgent army beats the government's forces.

All the conditions existed for an insurgency as the Sunnis had legitimate claims against the government, and the military was weak. The government was corrupt and discriminatory. We did not see the signs of discontent nor did we predict 30,000 ISIS fighters occupying Sunni towns and a city.

Just some food for thought.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 18 at 2015 4:56 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 16:56:57 -0400

This strategy has worked for years. Its amazing that counter-ops to this don't get employed. I think we tried w/ COIN, but it just didn't move fast enough for the media darlings.