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This is a follow up to another post.
In principal the tactics used in a strong force weak force conflict create situations like the following. These decisions are carried out by people under stress.
Sit. 1:
Vehicle contains a command and control target. You have paid a member of the population to place a gps tag on this vehicle.
The vehicle is moving through a mixed use area, you have visual contact from a helicopter at 10,000m. target is unaware you are there.
You can: do nothing, target continues to kill your people. fire a modified laser guided missile. this missile has a warhead that is reduced 60% and will probably kill everyone in the car. low probability it will kill bystanders. fire a unmodified hellfire missile. this missile will kill everyone in the car, and may kill people on the street. call in air support and direct a 500 - 2000 lb laser guided weapon. This will kill everyone in the car and cause catestrophic damage to the surrounding area.
Strong force generally chooses option 1, maybe option 2 if the target is deemed valuable enough. Never uses option3 if smart.
The international community can not stop all conflicts but it can police over use of force.
Sit2:
You persue a force into a village. you can:
sit back observe from cover and wait. Set up designated marksmen and plan safe lines of fire. Attack your target when it moves out. Be sure your designated marksman shoots the man with a radio, mortar base, or LMG first. persue into the village and expose yourself to attack and increase the risk of death to villagers from heavy weapons fire. Use a laser designator to target the building or buildings a person is in and destroy everything inside.
The SMART way here is choice 1. Wait the enemy out. Set up an attack that does not happen in a village. strong force has technology and training to do this.
Sadly choice 3 has been used in Iraq and Afghanistan. When there is a CHOICE (you are not pinned down, under fire, etc) there is NO ADVANTAGE to using firepower.
We figured out number 2 is dumb many times, but it still happens from time to time.
Weak force:
You can not form divisions and fight on parity. You will be chopped up by 20mm and 155 if you step out in the open.
You can: do nothing form small groups use asymetric infantry tactics and run and gun. This includes attacking enemy lines of support, outposts, and vehicles with explosives. Destroying command and control. This has real impact as your enemy must use infantry to cover these resources one "behind the lines" or you can fire unguided weapons into cities.
Successful weak forces have ALWAYS used option 2. This was effective in Europe, Iraq, and is effective now. It is accepted tactic and is legal under geneva. Highly effective, especially with a supporting population that has little chance of not supporting you.
Hamas is making a fundamental error by not attacking Israeli military targets.
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