Warfare by Sling and Stone

The American Military Goliath Should Be Worried that the World's Davids
Have Found a Sling and Stone that Work

General Anthony Zinni, USMC (Ret.), former commander of CENTCOM:

"Hammes explains the nasty, long-term, broad-spectrum wars we have fought and will continue to fight. It stands in sharp contrast to the short, high-tech, clean war the Defense Department is planning for. He focuses on how to win the war rather than just winning battles."

Bernard Trainor, Lieutenant General, USMC (Ret.), NBC News military analyst, coauthor of The Generals' War:

"Colonel Hammes cuts to the quick in defining the conundrum of dealing with twenty-first century warfare … His is a controversial analysis which is bound to raise the hackles of today's techno warriors."

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David's sling-and-stone fight against Goliath isn't that far from Iraqi insurgents fighting against coalition forces. In fact, around the world, insurgents such as Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and those responsible for the deaths of hundreds in Beslan, Russia, have found that, properly aimed and strongly thrown, their small stones can bring down Goliath.

"War has entered a new phase," says Col. Thomas X. Hammes, USMC, author of the new book The Sling and the Stone: On War in the 21st Century. "The fact that only unconventional or 4GW has succeeded against superpowers should be a key element in discussing the evolution of war. Unfortunately, it has been largely absent from the debate within the U.S. Department of Defense."

While the Department of Defense (DOD) pushes for a Goliath, technology-driven war machine, the insurgents are successfully practicing sling-and-stone, low-tech, fourth generation warfare (4GW)—relying on networks of people over high-tech weapons—to directly attacks the minds of our decision makers. They know they cannot defeat America's military. Instead of challenging the United States militarily, they use 4GW and make daily use of television, newspapers and the Internet to broadcast their attacks to reach US decision makers.  Their targets are not only the executive and legislative branches but also the voters. They even provide the video footage.

The Sling and the Stone: On War in the 21st Century, explores the evolution and current practice of fourth generation war (4GW) and explains why 4GW does not attempt to win by defeating the enemy's military forces.

Biographical note:

Col. T. X. Hammes reported to his current position at the National Defense University’s Institute for National Strategic Studies in July 2003, where he is a Senior Military Fellow in the institute’s Research Directorate. His focus is on homeland security, low-intensity conflict, stability operations, and military support to civil authorities.

Wednesday, Oct. 20; 6:30 p.m. Col. Hammes will sign copies of his book and answer questions about material presented in The Sling and the Stone: On War in the 21st Century. Complimentary copies available to the first 20 individuals to arrive.

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