A war between nations can be between a strong nation and a differently equipped nation. According to Paulus & Vashakmadze (2009), asymmetrical warfare is regarded as conflict or war between two significantly different entities in terms of tactics, strategy, and different military power and mostly utilizes unconventional weapons such as the case of guerrilla war. Focusing on global terrorism, asymmetrical warfare encourages the deployment of non-traditional military strategies mostly utilized by the weaker side to balance the power inequity with the opposite group. For example, this may take the form of cutting of telephone lines, destroying roads and rails. However, the asymmetrical war can become full explosive. Often, the primary objective of this kind of war is to weaken the enemy’s resolve (Paulus & Vashakmadze, 2009). The asymmetrical warfare can result in efforts to cripple the stronger enemy in to gain some parity. In modern days this has been practiced in areas such as destroying other nation’s technological advancements. For example, in recent times China and the United States have been engaged in irregular war. This has presented the US with a challenge and in turn, necessitating new thinking about possible vulnerabilities in their way of war. To be successful against the Chinese tactics and weapons, the US will require protecting itself against cyber and network penetrations.
The western nations have invested and successfully managed to build a strong military basis which has provided them with an advantage over terrorist groups. Due to their positional and strategic prowess, the enemy has been forced to utilize unconventional ways of the way to be equal with the western nations. Additionally, the western nations have technologically been on the forefront remaining well informed, ready and ahead of other nations and terrorist groups. This has, in turn, elevated them to be miles ahead in terms of detecting and thwarting possible terrorist attacks on their land (Paulus & Vashakmadze, 2009). To gain an upper hand over the western nations, the terrorist groups have in turn resulted in asymmetrical war tactics to at least achieve their objective. For example, there have been cases of hijacked vessels in seas by pirates. These incidents have been used to demand ransom money which would, in turn, be used to fiancé the terrorists' operations.
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In conclusion, despite the advancement and increased investment in its security details, terrorist activities have continued to occur in the United States and other western nations. The use of asymmetrical war tactics has enabled terrorists to penetrate the countries defense lines. Nevertheless, the 9/11 incident led to the invention of the homeland security department in the US which has been the foundation of providing internal security to America as a nation, properties, business entities, infrastructure, and the Americans. Terrorism continues to be a global issue as they devise new ways of financing their operations. In both cases, the defense and terrorists have invested in technology to counter each other in their operations.
References
Paulus, A., & Vashakmadze, M. (2009). Asymmetrical war and the notion of armed conflict--a tentative conceptualization. International Review of the Red Cross , 91 (873), 95–125.
