A comparative study of modern insurgency and the Rebel Alliance
As any fan of the Star Wars franchise can attest, the Original Trilogy by George Lucas is a story of good versus evil. In it, we see the fledgling Rebel Alliance in its struggle to overthrow the tyranny of the totalitarian Galactic Empire.
The overwhelming control and oppression in the lives of everyday citizens on thousands of worlds, has incited anger and animosity in the hearts and minds of many.
From their cries for freedom are birthed the seeds of rebellion; not out of a position of hubris, but rather one of desperation for change and for liberty. Indeed, many seek the restoration of the Old Republic, and the equilibrium of its government.
Individuals with nothing to lose and everything to gain choose to defy the laws and the rule of the Empire. Behind closed doors they begin to look for other like minded individuals who are ready and willing to act.
These small cells of patriots become the catalyst for change on their planet. They begin to assess their enemy’s capabilities, their routines, their strengths, and their weaknesses.
They seek out vulnerabilities that they can easily exploit, and their battle for freedom begins. Their mission may have humble beginnings, but soon their victories increase, their strategies become more complex, and their ambitions reach to the stars.
The fire may begin to burn on one world, but word of its heat spreads to many more. In just a few short years the once mighty Empire discovers that it is no longer untouchable.
Its ranks have been breached by spies, and it suffers daily harassment on a thousand worlds from filth that refuses to die. What’s more, many of these would be freedom fighters are as good if not better than their own forces. So goes the story of the Empire, and those who resist its rule.
There is however, a much darker shadow that exists in this protracted conflict, and that shadow is one of both complexity and moral ambiguity. Despite the valiant nature of the Rebellion, it is at its heart something not often discussed, and that is an insurgency.
An insurgency by definition is a violent and armed rebellion by small, lightly armed groups of individuals, who are engaged in irregular warfare against a larger authority or formal government.
So an insurgency then, is best described in modern terms as asymmetric warfare conducted by civilian fighters against a government and its military, in order to effect change.
These are men and women who could be labeled as extremists or even terrorists. They are individuals who have no rules, who have abandoned ethics and morals in order to achieve their objectives. They know that in order to defeat their enemies, that they must be willing to do what their enemies will not.
So, how does this galactic struggle compare to conflicts and wars on our own planet? Look at the Russo-Ukrainian conflict which began in 2014, and evolved into a full scale invasion in February of 2022.
Russia is a formal and organized nation and global superpower, being led by a totalitarian leader whose goal is the reunification of the former Soviet Union. He uses the political dysfunction in their relationship with Ukraine as justification for an invasion.
Russian forces cross the sovereign borders of an independent and legitimate nation and capture its territory. They establish control and announce the annexation of Crimea.
The Russians utilize psychological warfare with propaganda aimed at the general populace of Ukraine. They force Crimean citizens to publicly express their joy over the Russian state, and they cry for independence from Ukraine.
The world sees and hears this every day and night by broadcast news, and people around the world begin to question Ukraine. They begin to research Ukraine, and they examine its policies with their Russian neighbors.
In late 2021 Russian President Vladimir Putin sees the weakness of the West, and he has watched their lack of resolve for the past eight years. He decides to act, knowing that they dare not interfere or risk a wider conflict.
His gamble pays off, and Russian forces cross the border of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, and so begins the war. Ukraine is highly outnumbered and outmatched by the Russian forces, but they quickly respond to the invasion.
Ukrainian forces must choose when and where to attack their enemy, and they do so by leveraging irregular tactics and techniques not applicable to large scale conflicts.
They utilize drone boats to attack larger and vulnerable ships at port, embarrassing the Russian government and its leaders. They ambush smaller patrols and convoys, leaving the tanks and vehicles in tact to be used against their former owners.
Intelligence assets and special operations forces deploy deep behind enemy lines to conduct intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions. They use the information gathered to strike the Russians on their own territory.
Like the Rebel Alliance, Ukraine has created its own military to defend itself against a larger, well armed, equipped, and organized enemy. In both scenarios an all out assault would incur detrimental casualties and losses for either the Rebel Alliance or Ukraine.
Their leaders must then choose their battles wisely, making use of the assets that they have, while carefully avoiding any unnecessary risks. Striking their enemies command, communication, and supply chain would be paramount.
Both forces have carried out many such operations to great effect. Striking both the Empire and the Russians at a location and time where they least expect it would capitalize upon their lethargy.
A single designated marksman operating behind enemy lines could sow discord and fear by killing individual soldiers and fading away. The psychological damage alone would lead to mistakes made by Imperials and Russians alike, opening the door for surprise attacks on them both.
Like the Rebel Alliance, Ukraine is in a struggle with overwhelming odds, and the price is high. Every action they take against the Russians must be calculated and precise. They must go far enough to achieve freedom, while abstaining from overt aggression.
In the end, victory will only come to those willing to pay the highest price for freedom, and and a force willing to sacrifice everything is not an adversary to be taken lightly.
As Saw Gerrera once stated, “a lone fighter with a sharp stick can seize the moment, and save the day.”
It takes absolute courage and determination to look fear and certain defeat head on, and declare that you will win. If you have the experience, the mindset, and the training, then you can use an insurgency on any scale to defeat a superior foe.
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