Week 3 - Pat Asks You - Iraq 2006 and Missouri 1863
The style of warfare used in Missouri to fight much of the Civil War is described as "guerrilla warfare" - a method of combat by which a smaller group of combatants attempts to use its mobility to defeat a larger, and consequently less mobile, army (source: wikipedia) If you have been following the war in Iraq this term is often used to describe the warfare which currently takes place on the streets of that country every day.
What similarities do you see with the guerrilla warfare tactics used in Missouri in 1863 and Iraq in 2006?
posted by Eric Langhorst | 8:40 AM
7 Comments:
I think there are quite a bit of similarities between the guerilla warfare and the war in Iraq. In both, the people have to choose which side to be on and the people fearing what will happen to them.
~Steph
I agree; many people are forced to choose sides in both wars. Many people have suffered prejudice and unfair stereotypes about religion and opinions. The war tactics are also similar, in that the army is not very organized in Iraq, and we hear about a lot of "hit and run" circumstances on the news. Both groups of people have experienced hard times.
-Emma
Unfortunately, I don't follow the war in Iraq. I have, however, gathered enough information to come to the conclusion that two sides are apparent, as in Guerilla Season. Also, it seems like the Americans are kind of attacking the Iraq people to the extent of bombarding; we have more people and more power. As I write this, I am thinking more and more critically of the war. If we, the Americans that is, just left, wouldn't it make it a lot easier on the country we're invading? We should stop trying to fix the mess we caused and just get out of their hair! In conclusion, I think this war is similar to the guerilla warfare because of our advantages and the two sides.
~ MC Candy Apple
I don't follow the war that much, but I know the sides. It is the U.S. is more powerful, and bigger. Guerrilla warfare is similar to Iraq because they use surprising attacks. They both use hiding and the elements around to their advantage. In Iraq, the suicide bombers use the Guerilla tactics. The suicide bombers and the Guerillas both use unconventional methods to fight.
~Dhruv the Dominant
Iraq had suicidal bombings and such that could relate to Guerrilla warfare as a small number of people (1 person) attacks a big number of people. It's a surprise attack, pretty unconventional. They were not trained by the government, but are rather outside secretly training. That could be related to guerrilla warfare, who has the same elements.
-MC The Pink Penguin
In Iraq recently, there have been lots of ambushes. The Iraqis also planted bombs in the road that American soldiers ran over. This is the same as the war tactics in the book because the Iraqis know the land and use it.
MC Mathieu
I agree that both sides have similarities, but the war in Guerrilla Season is in a league of its own. The confusion and cruelty of taking sides or being stuck in the middle strikes me as distinct kind of battle. However, both Iraq and Guerrilla Season involve huge moral decisions and deciding who you are.
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