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Mujahideen Tactics in the Soviet-Afghan War - Bennett Park Raiders

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CHAPTER COMMENTARY<br />

Chapter 4, Vignette 5 Page 137<br />

When <strong>the</strong> guerrilla force decides to seize and hold a strong po<strong>in</strong>t,<br />

implied missions are <strong>the</strong> conduct of regular logistic resupply, <strong>the</strong><br />

cont<strong>in</strong>ual mann<strong>in</strong>g of <strong>the</strong> strong po<strong>in</strong>t and <strong>the</strong> ability to withstand<br />

artillery and air strikes. None of <strong>the</strong>se are easy for a guerrilla force<br />

dependent on part-time guerrillas. Fur<strong>the</strong>r, it requires <strong>the</strong> commitment<br />

of crew-served weapons and sufficient ammunition—commodities<br />

that are hard to remove dur<strong>in</strong>g a forced withdrawal. The<br />

guerrilla is trad<strong>in</strong>g his mobility and anonymity for a fixed-piece<br />

conventional battle. Quite frequently, <strong>the</strong> guerrilla is unable to<br />

make <strong>the</strong> transition.

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