Peter Harris’s Reviews > Invisible Armies: An Epic History of Guerrilla Warfare from Ancient Times to the Present > Status Update
Peter Harris
is on page 20 of 784
Sargon/The Bronze Age:
The author draws a loose connection between hunting and the art of combat. He thinks that agricultural farming came first. Out of the need to defend farming, loosely connected to The Bronze Age, the first combat was started by Sargon, ca 2350 BC, in Mesopotamia,using bronze-tipped spears. He introduces guerrilla warfare with the brutality, savagery, and complete destruction, no gain in wealth
— May 09, 2024 12:11PM
The author draws a loose connection between hunting and the art of combat. He thinks that agricultural farming came first. Out of the need to defend farming, loosely connected to The Bronze Age, the first combat was started by Sargon, ca 2350 BC, in Mesopotamia,using bronze-tipped spears. He introduces guerrilla warfare with the brutality, savagery, and complete destruction, no gain in wealth
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Peter Harris
is on page 485 of 784
Arafat, Israel, and the Gaza Strip:
From the end of the reading,the author says Arafat wanted a Palestinian nation and wanted to model it after South Vietnam.The author says he was unsuccessful because he refused to engage in peaceful negotiations and instead always chose the path of the gun.It’s hard to believe the struggles for 40 years 1965-2004,to create a Palestinian state. Lesson: terrorism doesn’t work
— May 13, 2024 11:10AM
From the end of the reading,the author says Arafat wanted a Palestinian nation and wanted to model it after South Vietnam.The author says he was unsuccessful because he refused to engage in peaceful negotiations and instead always chose the path of the gun.It’s hard to believe the struggles for 40 years 1965-2004,to create a Palestinian state. Lesson: terrorism doesn’t work
Peter Harris
is on page 415 of 784
Early Vietnam (1954):
After the French were defeated, a guy named Edward Lansdale moved into South Vietnam with the intent of using unconventional tactics to strengthen the south. The author says that when Lansdale left circa 1957, he had been largely successful. South Vietnam was stable and had what was supposed to have been a free election. Although Diem would have won, cheating was suspected.
— May 13, 2024 08:19AM
After the French were defeated, a guy named Edward Lansdale moved into South Vietnam with the intent of using unconventional tactics to strengthen the south. The author says that when Lansdale left circa 1957, he had been largely successful. South Vietnam was stable and had what was supposed to have been a free election. Although Diem would have won, cheating was suspected.
Peter Harris
is on page 360 of 784
Mao Zedong and Chang Kai Shek:
It was the Nationalist backed by the USA versus the Communists backed by the Soviet Union. The Author says Chaing started the Civil War, but when Chaing failed to capture Manchuria, the USA’s Marshal told them to ceasefire. Probably during at least 4 instances the author brings up Mao guerrilla skills. There are actually many photos of Mao living in caves and off the land.
— May 13, 2024 06:27AM
It was the Nationalist backed by the USA versus the Communists backed by the Soviet Union. The Author says Chaing started the Civil War, but when Chaing failed to capture Manchuria, the USA’s Marshal told them to ceasefire. Probably during at least 4 instances the author brings up Mao guerrilla skills. There are actually many photos of Mao living in caves and off the land.
Peter Harris
is on page 322 of 784
Discussions on success:
The author puts forth arguments about the failures of special forces and the argument whether or not needed,if the missions end in failure.I’m reminded of 1980 and the failure to rescue some 90 hostages in Iran.Carter had to do something and it appears to have failed because of engineering miscalculations instead of ranger or special forces mistakes.The Bin Laden mission was a success.
— May 11, 2024 02:37PM
The author puts forth arguments about the failures of special forces and the argument whether or not needed,if the missions end in failure.I’m reminded of 1980 and the failure to rescue some 90 hostages in Iran.Carter had to do something and it appears to have failed because of engineering miscalculations instead of ranger or special forces mistakes.The Bin Laden mission was a success.
Peter Harris
is on page 295 of 784
Special Forces:
The author makes the distinction that guerrillas and special forces are not one and the same. It’s the support given to special forces that guerrillas don’t have.Although, I think it true that special forces and rangers were created to fight fire with fire. I’m pretty sure the colonists realized the nomadic and, knowing the land, abilities of the natives and created the Rangers to do the same
— May 11, 2024 06:51AM
The author makes the distinction that guerrillas and special forces are not one and the same. It’s the support given to special forces that guerrillas don’t have.Although, I think it true that special forces and rangers were created to fight fire with fire. I’m pretty sure the colonists realized the nomadic and, knowing the land, abilities of the natives and created the Rangers to do the same
Peter Harris
is on page 270 of 784
Being a terrorist, good or bad?
I think the author says it must be addressed in case by case manner.The only thing statistics have proven is that terrorists are always the younger people.When a terrorist willfully kills a nonviolent person, is there any way this is a good thing? No. If a terrorist, who truly believes in the argument, out of nothing else to live for, commits himself to brutality a good thing? Maybe
— May 10, 2024 03:05PM
I think the author says it must be addressed in case by case manner.The only thing statistics have proven is that terrorists are always the younger people.When a terrorist willfully kills a nonviolent person, is there any way this is a good thing? No. If a terrorist, who truly believes in the argument, out of nothing else to live for, commits himself to brutality a good thing? Maybe
Peter Harris
is on page 220 of 784
Abolitionist John Brown:
Personally,I never would have thought of John Brown as a terrorist, but I can see the author’s argument. Similar to MLK, I look at both men as people who hastened something that had to inevitably happen at some point in time.With John Brown, he apparently employed very ruthless killings in order to strike terror throughout the South.I think the South was employing terrorism against blacks
— May 10, 2024 02:29PM
Personally,I never would have thought of John Brown as a terrorist, but I can see the author’s argument. Similar to MLK, I look at both men as people who hastened something that had to inevitably happen at some point in time.With John Brown, he apparently employed very ruthless killings in order to strike terror throughout the South.I think the South was employing terrorism against blacks
Peter Harris
is on page 160 of 784
Chechnya and Russia:
Upon reading about this one, I am reminded of 2 things: you can’t negotiate with terrorists And,fight fire with fire.There’s a description of the Russians coming into some makeshift Chechnya town and burning all the huts. Terrorists never surrender.Even after stooping down to them and burning everything, Chechnyans still would just as soon burn to death, thinking they are making a statement
— May 10, 2024 01:08PM
Upon reading about this one, I am reminded of 2 things: you can’t negotiate with terrorists And,fight fire with fire.There’s a description of the Russians coming into some makeshift Chechnya town and burning all the huts. Terrorists never surrender.Even after stooping down to them and burning everything, Chechnyans still would just as soon burn to death, thinking they are making a statement
Peter Harris
is on page 125 of 784
Italian Unification (1860):
One thing clear to me, is that guerrilla warfare most often involves a strike and retreat form of combat. Garibaldi perfected this during the Italian unification. However, while the author tries to put Garibaldi in this category, he had a sense of empathy for his enemies, which I didn’t think was guerrilla. Also, he never wanted spoils of war. Do guerrillas want war riches or not?
— May 09, 2024 02:16PM
One thing clear to me, is that guerrilla warfare most often involves a strike and retreat form of combat. Garibaldi perfected this during the Italian unification. However, while the author tries to put Garibaldi in this category, he had a sense of empathy for his enemies, which I didn’t think was guerrilla. Also, he never wanted spoils of war. Do guerrillas want war riches or not?
Peter Harris
is on page 35 of 784
The Romans:
Even in a book about guerrilla warfare, the Roman Empire must be discussed. The German tribes were the guerrillas and an eventual contributor to the fall of the Roman Empire. Although guerrilla warfare seemed very primitive without any strategy, the author introduces attacking and retreating. If the enemy pursues, then setup an ambush. The key was being light and quick, but also knowing the land well.
— May 09, 2024 12:47PM
Even in a book about guerrilla warfare, the Roman Empire must be discussed. The German tribes were the guerrillas and an eventual contributor to the fall of the Roman Empire. Although guerrilla warfare seemed very primitive without any strategy, the author introduces attacking and retreating. If the enemy pursues, then setup an ambush. The key was being light and quick, but also knowing the land well.
