Defense and the National Interest

by Michael Finley
Is the global financial crisis a “bear market rally” in the decline of the state, or its resurgence?
I have this question for 4GW theorists.  I haven’t seen it adequately addressed anywhere, and it is of the greatest urgency.  Our understanding of the basic elements available to inform grand strategy turns on the answer [...]

by William S. Lind
15 December 2008
America’s Defense Meltdown is the title of a new book on military reform, edited by Winslow Wheeler and published by the Center for Defense Information. In it, some of the leading figures from the military reform movement of the 1970’s and ‘80’s update their work and relate it to [...]

From today’s Times of London:
The West is indirectly funding the insurgency in Afghanistan thanks to a system of payoffs to Taleban commanders who charge protection money to allow convoys of military supplies to reach NATO bases in the south of the country.
In case it’s slipped your memory, the strategy of the current Administration, and the [...]

Jim Gimian, publisher of Shambhala Sun magazine, and Barry Boyce, editor of that magazine, are presenting on Sun Tzu.  They are also two members of the Denma Translation Group that produced one of the most important translations of Sun Tzu.
I’ve been anticipating this presentation ever since James and Barry agreed to come.
Now that I’ve survived [...]

At the University of Prince Edward Island, Canada.  We’ve got about 25 people — a dedicated core, to say the least.  There will be video later, probably next week.  As most of you know, the theme is local resilience.  The host, Rob Paterson, is now doing the intro, followed by my 30 min Boyd refresher.
More [...]

lots of other stuff, including defense, joins in.  Rob Paterson has a detailed look at this issue, along with an extensive review of America’s Defense Meltdown, on his blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
What America does confront are “people’s wars”. Our “enemies” are not states at all. Aircraft carriers are impotent when facing a guerrilla movement. So are [...]

A greatly expanded version (95 pp. / 2.5 MB PDF) is now available from our 4GW Manuals page.
Written by the 4GW Seminar at Quantico, this edition also includes Red Team games and potential solutions to problems.
As an aside, and perhaps someone with experience could comment, but after editing this manual, I feel like I’m gaining [...]

The latest in the series of manuals for fourth generation warfare is now available from our 4GW Manuals page.
The authors, the Fourth Generation Warfare Seminar at Quantico, observe that:
The light infantryman characterizes himself by his mental resourcefulness and physical toughness. Light infantry’s inborn self-reliance (the reason they were chosen to join Light Infantry units), [...]

The second in the series of manuals and revisions from the 4GW Seminar at MCB Quantico, FMFM 1-3A, A Tactical Handbook for Counterinsurgency and Police Operations.
Here’s the preface:
Why another hip-pocket guide for counterinsurgency? What makes this different? This handbook is an offering from a group of Marine officers who feel that current doctrine [...]

The 4GW Seminar at Quantico has produced a new draft, 4.3, of FMFM-1A:
Please note that FMFM-1A is offered here in draft form. We (the seminar) welcome suggestions for changes and improvements. When the seminar reconvenes each fall, we will consider and evaluate any suggestions that we receive, although as the nature of Fourth Generation warfare [...]