Free Republic

The audacious attacks on Russian airfields highlight the power of unconventional, asymmetric warfare — and the threat to U.S. strategic bases and ports, experts say.Ukraine’s surprise Sunday strike that used relatively inexpensive drones to knock out a significant portion of Russia’s long-range bomber capability was arguably the single largest blow to Moscow in its three-year war on its neighbor and a stunning display of asymmetric warfare. The out-of-the-blue drone blitz elicited glee among Ukraine’s backers in Washington, but also a chilling realization: The United States is increasingly vulnerable to just such a low-tech, low-cost strike. “The Pentagon should be very...

Two thousand years ago, a Roman legion led by Marcus Licinius Crassus was marching toward Persian lands. Iran, ruled by the Partian Empire, was in no position to defeat this massive attack. Ten thousand soldiers under Iranian general Sourena faced an army of 43,000 well-trained, well-equipped and experienced Roman legionnaires. ............................................................ Taking a lesson from history, they plot asymmetric tactics to hit the Americans where they’re most vulnerable. Iran is prepared to send swarms of cheap, disposable craft to confuse and overwhelm the Pentagon’s much more monolithic naval forces.

FORT MEADE, Md. (Army News Service, March 14, 2006) -- The Asymmetric Warfare Group unfurled its colors for the first time at a ceremony at McGill Training Center on Fort Meade, March 8. Made up now of less than 60 Soldiers in 12 different military occupational specialties, the unit will eventually grow to nearly 400, officials said. The decision to form the AWG was made in 2003. With the U.S. military committed to fighting the Global War on Terrorism, Army leaders decided that a unit was needed to help combat the enemy’s ability to use asymmetric weapons on the battlefield....