Security

Islamists Outgun Lebanon Army

Usually, when strategists like John Robb have talked about guerrilla groups that "challenge the nation-state’s monopoly on violence," I’ve been a bit skeptical. But there’s more evidence that Robb is being proved at least part-way right. Check out this snippet about the battles raging in Lebanon: During the fighting, Fatah al-Islam [guerrilla group] fired antiaircraft […]

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Usually, when strategists like John Robb have talked about guerrilla groups that "challenge the nation-state’s monopoly on violence," I've been a bit skeptical. But there's more evidence that Robb is being proved at least part-way right. Check out this snippet about the battles raging in Lebanon:

During the fighting, Fatah al-Islam [guerrilla group] fired antiaircraft guns and mortars and used night-vision goggles and other relatively sophisticated equipment. The Lebanese Army does not have such advanced gear.

It's been tough enough, fighting a low-tech insurgency with a high-tech U.S. Army. But fighting a high-tech insurgency with a less-sophisticated military? Yikes.

(High five: Haninah)