NCJ Number
63543
Date Published
1966
Length
349 pages
Annotation
COUNTERREVOLUTIONARY FORCES MUST ADOPT REVOLUTIONARY STRATEGY AND PRINCIPLES AND APPLY THEM IN REVERSE TO DEFEAT THE REVOLUTIONARIES WITH THEIR OWN WEAPONS ON THEIR OWN BATTLEFIELD.
Abstract
THE HISTORY OF PREVIOUS REVOLUTIONARY WARS DEMONSTRATES THAT COUNTERREVOLUTIONARIES HAVE ADEQUATE WEAPONS TO WIN. HOWEVER, CERTAIN FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES APPLY: (1) A FIRM POLITICO-MILITARY FOUNDATION MUST BE PRESERVED OR REESTABLISHED BEFORE STARTING ANY LARGE-SCALE OFFENSIVE TO DESTROY THE REVOLUTIONARIES; (2) TO PRESERVE A FIRM POLITICO-MILITARY FOUNDATION, THE GOVERNMENT MUST FIRST ESTABLISH STRATEGIC BASES, BUILT MAINLY ON POPULATION CONCENTRATIONS WITH EMPHASIS ON RURAL AS WELL AS URBAN AREAS; (3) THE POPULATION MUST BE MOBILIZED IN SUPPORT OF THE GOVERNMENT; (4) AN EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION WHICH STRESSES THE PEOPLE'S WELFARE MUST BE ESTABLISHED AND SHOULD INCLUDE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION FROM ALL POSSIBLE ELEMENTS OPPOSING THE REVOLUTIONARIES; AND (5) A NATIONAL PROGRAM MUST BE DEVELOPED FOR THE FUTURE OF THE COUNTRY, THUS TAKING THE INITIATIVE AWAY FROM THE REVOLUTIONARIES. HOWEVER, BECAUSE THIS COUNTERREVOLUTIONARY PROCESS EXTENSIVELY DEPLETES RESOURCES, OUTSIDE SUPPORT OFTEN MUST BE SOUGHT. THE COMPARATIVE AMOUNTS OF SUPPORT FOR THE REVOLUTIONARIES AND COUNTERREVOLUTIONARIES CAN BE THE DECISIVE ELEMENT IN THE WAR. HOWEVER, THE GOVERNMENT MUST CONSIDER THE NATURE OF THIS SUPPORT. DIRECT MILITARY INTERVENTION CAN ANATAGONIZE A POPULATION ALREADY DELUGED BY REVOLUTIONARY PROPAGANDA. OFTEN, THE MOST EFFECTIVE SUPPORT ENCOMPASSES TRAINING, SUPPLIES, MONEY, AND POLITICAL BACKING. THE CONDUCT OF COUNTERREVOLUTIONARY WARFARE REQUIRES THE UNIFICATION OF MILITARY, ADMINISTRATIVE, LEGISLATIVE, AND JUDICIAL AUTHORITY AT EVERY LEVEL, A CONCEPT CONTRARY TO THE DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM WITH ITS EMPHASIS ON THE SEPARATION OF POWERS. ULTIMATELY, THE CONDUCT OF WAR MUST BE GUIDED BY THE POLITICAL LEADERSHIP SINCE THE WAR HAS POLITICAL OBJECTIVES. BOTH SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM STRATEGIES MUST BE DEVELOPED AND BE BASED ON A DETERMINATION OF THE PHASE WHICH THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR HAS REACHED (ORGANIZATIONAL, TERRORISM, GUERILLA, WARFARE, OR MOBILE WARFARE). MASSIVE ORGANIZATION, DEDICATION, SACRIFICE, AND TIME ARE REQUIRED FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO SUCCEED. HALF-MEASURES LEAD ONLY TO PROTRACTED, COSTLY DEFEATS. THE BOOK CONTAINS MAPS, SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHIES FOR EACH CHAPTER, FOOTNOTES, AND AN INDEX. (PRG)