1. Most wars are asymmetrical or irregular.2. In these wars, the guerrillas/irregulars/insurgents do not aim for military victory.3. You can not defeat these groups by killing lots of their members. In fact, they want you to do that.4. High-tech weaponry is mostly useless in these wars.5. Hearts and minds, meaning propaganda and morale, are more important than military superiority.6. Most people are not rational; they are tribal: My gang yeah, your gang boo! It really is that simple. The rest is cosmetics.
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  • War — Reflections on conflict, peace, and the human cost of war

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