US doctrine for the past 30 or so years provides seven phases of a US sponsored resistance. The issue I have with this is that I believe that there is a difference between what the resistance is doing as compared to the actions of the US in supporting it. The resistance phasing helps one understand the devlopment and operations of the resistance which are generally unchanged, althought affected in time and material, by US sponsorship. This is distintively different than the way US supports the resistance and the phasing of the US actions.
Your thoughts?
Yes, there is a difference between the phases of a resistance and the phases of US support to a resistance. A resistance can exist without US support. US support to a resistance can start or stop anywhere during the "life" of that resistance. Think of a resistance as an independent variable, the outcome as a dependent variable, and US support (if it exists) as an intervening variable.
Many are clear on the seven phases of US support to a resistance. What do you regard the phases of a resistance, it's "life cycle," if you will, regardless of any US involvement?
Posted by: Steve | 11/15/2009 at 07:27 PM