Small Wars Journal
  • "Slow is smooth, smooth is fast."
    -- Old MOUT Adage
  • “With no other security forces on hand, U.S. military was left to confront, almost alone, an Iraqi insurgency and a crime rate that grew worse throughout the year, waged in part by soldiers of the disbanded army and in part by criminals who were released from prison.”
    -- John Spratt
  • “It takes a brave man to be a coward in the Red Army.”
    -- Joseph Stalin
  • "In 1991 the Gulf War showed everyone how not to fight us, but the 2003 invasion of Iraq showed everybody how to fight us."
    -- David Kilcullen
  • “For Dave Dilegge and Bill Nagle, founders and editors of Small Wars Journal. They gave the counterguerrilla underground a home, at a time when misguided leaders banned even the word ‘insurgency,’ though busily losing to one. Scholars, warriors, and agitators, Dave and Bill laid the foundation for battlefield success: our generation owes them a debt of gratitude.”
    -- David Kilcullen ('Counterinsugency' Dedication)

Changes Are Coming!

 

Small Wars Journal is in the process of some major changes. The Small Wars Foundation is working closely with the new owners of the website at Arizona State University (ASU). We are transitioning to a new staff, a new website, and rebranding that will honor SWJ's important legacy and forge a powerful new discourse on small wars, irregular warfare, and competitive statecraft. Small Wars Journal will continue to publish original works from authentic voices across the spectrum of stakeholders in small wars.  

Journal

Unleashing Private Capital: A Strategic Shift to Boost Allied Defense
by John Nagl, by Dan Rice | Thu, 09/05/2024 - 8:07pm | 0 comments
The U.S. stands at a pivotal moment in its global security strategy. As the world grapples with war in Ukraine and Chinese aggression in the South-China Sea, the need to bolster the defense capabilities of key allies has never been more pressing. Traditional methods of military aid and direct government spending are insufficient to meet the challenges posed by rising powers like China and Russia. A simple yet transformative policy change could unlock significant private investment in overseas defense manufacturing and strengthen the defense industrial base of U.S. allies in critical regions such as Eastern Europe and the Indo-Pacific. By expanding the mandate of the U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to include defense-related projects, the U.S. can incentivize private capital to flow into areas crucial for global security.
Not Today--and Tomorrow’s Not Good Either:   The Mission of the US Army Pacific
by John Nagl | Wed, 09/04/2024 - 4:15pm | 0 comments
The United States Army Pacific, and its higher headquarters the United States Indo-Pacific Command, exist to make sure that the United States is never caught flat-footed again.  I was in Oahu a few weeks ago (tough duty) as part of a team from the United States Army War College, where I teach senior officers military strategy, planning, and operations; my students at USARPAC were mostly more junior, captains and majors and senior non-commissioned officers who worked at Fort Shafter and across the Indo-Pacific.
Perspective: Beyond Narcos − Mexico, the United States, Nearshoring and Organized Crime
by Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera, by John P. Sullivan | Wed, 08/28/2024 - 3:06pm | 0 comments
This essay by two SWJ−El Centro scholars looks at the complexities of US-Mexico relations and the need for cooperation based upon mutual respect to address transnational organized crime.
Perspective: Unmasking the Turf Wars − The Complex Rivalries of Turkish Mafia Groups in Europe and Links to Latin America
by Mahmut Cengiz | Tue, 08/27/2024 - 1:39pm | 0 comments
This article provides perspective on Turkish organized crime and its links throughout Europe and Latin America.
Perspective: Irregular Warfare in Strategic Competition and Gray Zones, Prosecuting Authoritarian Subversion and Exploitative Use of Corruption and Criminality to Weaken Democracy
by David M. Luna | Sat, 08/24/2024 - 11:41pm | 0 comments
This commentary summarizes the author’s presentation to the United States Department of Defense (DoD) Strategic Multi-Layer Assessment (SMA) Speaker Series at the Pentagon, Washington, DC on 22 August 2024.The author is Executive Director of the International Coalition Against Illicit Economies (ICAIE)
Perspective: Colombia's Security Crisis – An Emerging Dilemma for US Foreign Policy
by César Niño | Tue, 08/20/2024 - 6:01pm | 0 comments
This essay by Colombian scholar provides insight into the bilateral US-Colombia policy challenges as transnational gangs and criminal armed groups threaten Colombian and regional security
The Ukrainian August 2024 offensive: Some initial thoughts
by Martin Stanton | Thu, 08/15/2024 - 7:40pm | 0 comments
In recent weeks the Ukrainians have sustained a division (-) sized offensive deep into Russian territory southeast of Kursk traveling over the same ground that saw some of the largest tank battles in WW2.  This offensive surprised the Russians and they have not been very effective in countering it.  It is the most significant development in the Ukraine war in over a year.  Below are some of my initial thoughts on this. 
Underworld Crossroads: Dark Networks and Global Illicit Trade in the Tri-border Area Between Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay
by Rashmi Singh , by Jorge Lasmar | Mon, 08/05/2024 - 9:17pm | 0 comments
This article provides an overview of research on the Tri-border area (TBA) between Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay conducted by the authors as part of the Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center (TraCCC) at George Mason University project ‘Hubs of Illicit Trade.’
Perspective: Debating Islam and Terrorism After the October 7 Hamas Attacks: How Effective Is It?
by Mahmut Cengiz | Mon, 08/05/2024 - 5:39pm | 0 comments
This essay by SWJ−El Centro Fellow Mahmut Cengiz provides perspective on the intersection of Salifi-Jihadist groups and terrorism in the aftermath of the October 7th attacks. This essay examines the fundamental factors behind the frequent association of Islam with terrorism and offers recommendations for addressing this issue.
War is Not Just
by Lewis Lance Boothe | Tue, 07/30/2024 - 4:00pm | 0 comments
Let us discuss war as it is, not as we would like it to be. Regulating war is pointless, and our time and energy would be better spent fighting war quickly, decisively, and with single-minded ruthlessness rather than fretting over ethics. Acting as if law applies to war is a foolish hinderance on its conduct. War drives toward extremes. War should go to these extremes as quickly as possible where it is fought in such a vicious manner that it persuades enemies and neutrals alike that war with us is not worth waging.

Blog Posts

9/10/24 National Security and Korean News and Commentary
by Dave Maxwell | Tue, 09/10/2024 - 7:18am | 0 comments

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9/9/24 National Security and Korean News and Commentary
by Dave Maxwell | Mon, 09/09/2024 - 7:52am | 0 comments

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9/8/24 National Security and Korean News and Commentary
by Dave Maxwell | Sun, 09/08/2024 - 11:22am | 0 comments

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9/7/24 National Security and Korean News and Commentary
by Dave Maxwell | Sat, 09/07/2024 - 11:32am | 0 comments

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Free Burma Rangers – Open Volunteer Positions 6 September 2024
by SWJ Editors | Fri, 09/06/2024 - 4:20pm | 0 comments

Editor's Note:  The Free Burma Rangers have been doing incredible work in Burma for decades.  Please support them here: https://www.freeburmarangers.org/donations/.

9/6/24 National Security and Korean News and Commentary
by Dave Maxwell | Fri, 09/06/2024 - 10:17am | 0 comments

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9/5/24 National Security and Korean News and Commentary
by Dave Maxwell | Thu, 09/05/2024 - 9:04am | 0 comments

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9/4/24 National Security and Korean News and Commentary
by Dave Maxwell | Wed, 09/04/2024 - 11:43am | 0 comments

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9/3/24 National Security and Korean News and Commentary
by Dave Maxwell | Tue, 09/03/2024 - 7:38am | 0 comments

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9/2/24 National Security and Korean News and Commentary
by Dave Maxwell | Mon, 09/02/2024 - 12:35pm | 0 comments

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9/1/24 National Security and Korean News and Commentary
by Dave Maxwell | Sun, 09/01/2024 - 2:16pm | 0 comments

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8/31/24 National Security and Korean News and Commentary
by Dave Maxwell | Sat, 08/31/2024 - 2:05pm | 0 comments

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8/29-30/24 National Security and Korean News and Commentary
by Dave Maxwell | Fri, 08/30/2024 - 8:19am | 0 comments

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8/28/24 National Security and Korean News and Commentary
by Dave Maxwell | Wed, 08/28/2024 - 2:02pm | 0 comments

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8/27/24 National Security and Korean News and Commentary
by Dave Maxwell | Tue, 08/27/2024 - 6:09pm | 0 comments

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