Reply #5: True.

[cliss]

This is what we ran into in VietNam also. This is the fundamental problem with Guerrilla warfare. You have a contingent of insurgents, and you have a local population. There is not a good way of distinguishing between the locals the guerrilla fighters. The local population, in fact, harbors and protects them. One minute, he's there. Blink your eyes, and poof he's gone. The villagers look at the occupiers, smile and shrug their shoulders.

We, on the other hand, are clearly different from the locals. We can be spotted at any time. WE are the ones who can't hide from them. Hence the big weapons at our sides, at all times. Sometimes, in our frustration, we shoot randomly, killing many innocent bystanders. This only increases the rage and hostility of the local population.

Size makes a big difference in these kinds of battles. I've read that the ONLY kind of warfare that the US can not fight is guerrilla warfare, for obvious reasons. We can handle big, marching armies. No problem. Blast them off the face of the earth. Our army is designed for big battles.

But single, one-man units - can't be done.

Also, Lt. General Smith is wrong. He said, "And as we adapt, they adapt. It's actually the reverse.