Science, Strategy and War The Strategic Theory of ... - Boekje Pienter

for insurrection/revolution by infiltration cadres (vanguards) who can not only subvert theexisting authority but also convert leaders and people to the cause and organizational way ofthe guerrillas. Based upon this structure, they attempt to subvert the government andconvert people. This will create an alien atmosphere of security and intelligence in order to“blind” the regime to the plans, operations and organization of the guerrilla movement,while at the same time the regime’s strengths, weaknesses, moves and intentions becomevisible.The next phase, comes in the form of propaganda, inspiring civil disorder (such asrallies, demonstration, strikes and riots). Selected acts of terrorism and sabotage will beconducted. The resulting misinformation can be exploited to expend mistrust and sowdiscord, which in turn magnifies the appearance of corruption, incompetence, etc, and theinability of the regime to govern. Tiny cohesive bands can then be employed for surprise hitand-runraids against lines of communications to gain arms and supplies as well as to disruptthe communication, coordination and movement of the government. When superiorgovernment police and armed force do appear, these guerrilla bands should not engage inbattle but instead retreat and melt into the environment. This scheme can be expanded. Suchtiny bands can scatter across the country to arouse the people (and gain recruits) as well as toharass, wear-out, and spread-out government forces. When indeed government forces arethinly spread and operate not in superior force sizes but in small units, they can be engagedthrough ambushes and sneak attacks by larger bands, or mobile formations whichconcentrate to wipe-out these dispersed, isolated, and relatively weak fractions.Meanwhile the effects of propaganda, re-education and selected military successesshould be exploited. The grievances and obsessions of people should be played upon. Thegovernment must be encouraged to indiscriminately take harsh reprisal measures against thepeople in order to connect the government with the expanding climate of mistrust, discord,and moral disintegration. Simultaneously and in stark contrast to the government, guerrillasshould exhibit moral authority, offer competence, and provide desired benefits. This willassist in further eroding the government’s influence, gaining more recruits and multiplyingthe base areas. Subsequently, the political infrastructure can expand as well as the influenceand control exerted by the guerrilla movement over the population and the countryside. Thiswill culminate with the visible demonstration of the disintegration of the regime which iseffectuated by strikes of small fluid bands and ever larger formations in a Cheng/Ch’Ifashion, to split-up, envelop, and annihilate fractions of major enemy forces 89 .The essence of the modern guerrilla campaign, according to Boyd, is thus to 90 :Capitalize on corruption, injustice, incompetence, etc., (or their appearances) as basis togenerate atmosphere of mistrust and discord in order to sever moral bonds that bindpeople to existing regimeSimultaneouslyShare existing burdens with people and work with them to root out and punishcorruption, remove injustice, eliminate grievances, etc., as basis to form moral bondsbetween people and guerrillas in order to bind people to guerrilla philosophy and ideals.The intent of guerrilla activities is to:89 Ibid.90 Ibid, p.91.205