In this transmission, we’re going to discuss the topic of insurgencies and its implications for the military, law enforcement, and even security-minded civilians.
Agreed. In the episode, I go into specifics about external support is the key to any insurgent success. Check it out and let me know what you think. Thanks for the book tip. I'll check it out as well.
I just put the book in my queue. Looks like a banger. For people looking to get a 30k foot view of insurgencies, I always recommend War of the Flea, by Robert Tabor. It's a short and easy read, but packed with vital info.
Interesting remark, "No dog is slain by fleas". I have seen cattle, ie. occasional single cow killed by fire ants here in SE Tennessee and GA. The damn things are so small but they are fast, focused, coordinated and pack a sting that you cannot ignore. No outside help LOL.
In fact 🤖 “Need an update epilogue to “Animal Farm.” A group of Technology expert Fire Ants attack the Neoliberal Corporate Tyranny of Napoleon by rapid fire ant commando raids and hacks against the Pigs of Animal Farm.
Underground libertarian Fire ants build a secret army of hackers and ant infantry commandos to overwhelm the Pigs, then lead the now liberated animals into Space colonies. “
Great points from both of you! The analogy in The War of the Flea isn’t meant to be taken literally, but rather to illustrate the nature of an insurgency. Like fleas attacking a dog, an insurgency can harass and sap the strength of a larger adversary, slowly weakening it over time.
Your mention of fire ants adds an interesting twist. They demonstrate how coordinated action from even the smallest opponents can overwhelm a much larger foe—another metaphorical layer worth exploring.
Analogies like this are tools to explain the nature of the dynamic, not prescribe a literal outcome. The idea isn’t whether a dog can be slain by fleas (or fire ants), but how persistent, smaller threat can disrupt a stronger opponent and change the balance of power, thus the outcome of the conflict.
Absolutely! When I first shared my analysis of insurgency principles years ago (now the podcast episode), some people misinterpreted it as fear-mongering—thinking I was labeling certain domestic groups as insurgencies, rather than exploring the parallels. Glad you caught the nuance!
I was listening to a podcast earlier that was describing how a small organized groups of employees with an axe to grind have been able to bring large companies to their knees not only for fear of backlash but even fear of physical violence in the workplace. Nuance is right but also brings it closer to home when thinking about application to our own lives in the here and now.
For sure! We’re living in a world where people are incentivized to build victimhood narratives. When those stories collapse or aren’t being affirmed, some people acting out of their grievances- real or imagined - will strike out.
Dear Pearl, there’s been a Strategic Snap. Of all things it began with Mr. Voelz’s literal tale of Fire Ants 🐜 killing cows, in response to my remark no Flea kills a dog. Rising to the Implied challenge, I harnessed technology to spin a tale of the Fire Ants liberation of animals farm.
Hi, you might want to read Mark Moyar’s Vietnam Trilogy for a very in depth post mortem perspective.
Phoenix and the Birds of Prey
Triumph forsaken *
Triumph regained.
(*Outside support indeed).
An insurgency without significant outside support isn’t going to win.
No dog is slain by fleas.
Agreed. In the episode, I go into specifics about external support is the key to any insurgent success. Check it out and let me know what you think. Thanks for the book tip. I'll check it out as well.
Moyar is GenX historian who noticed the histories ending in 1968 were off, and went digging.
Deep.
I just put the book in my queue. Looks like a banger. For people looking to get a 30k foot view of insurgencies, I always recommend War of the Flea, by Robert Tabor. It's a short and easy read, but packed with vital info.
I’ve read it, agree.
Well. Of course. We have had domestic animals with fleas. Not fun at all. Requires an all-out assault to vanquish. But love analogies!
Oh good. Let the war of the fire ants begin. 🤖🐜🔥
https://chatgpt.com/share/676058cd-c510-8002-8720-e47e3c321bdd
Interesting remark, "No dog is slain by fleas". I have seen cattle, ie. occasional single cow killed by fire ants here in SE Tennessee and GA. The damn things are so small but they are fast, focused, coordinated and pack a sting that you cannot ignore. No outside help LOL.
In fact 🤖 “Need an update epilogue to “Animal Farm.” A group of Technology expert Fire Ants attack the Neoliberal Corporate Tyranny of Napoleon by rapid fire ant commando raids and hacks against the Pigs of Animal Farm.
Underground libertarian Fire ants build a secret army of hackers and ant infantry commandos to overwhelm the Pigs, then lead the now liberated animals into Space colonies. “
Yes … my refutation of the analogy will hold, but ‘Tis not Atlas to hold up the world…
And behold I stray into metaphor…
I await the War of the Fire ants, perhaps an update to “Animal Farm”? Are the Fire Ants the goodies or the baddies?
Great points from both of you! The analogy in The War of the Flea isn’t meant to be taken literally, but rather to illustrate the nature of an insurgency. Like fleas attacking a dog, an insurgency can harass and sap the strength of a larger adversary, slowly weakening it over time.
Your mention of fire ants adds an interesting twist. They demonstrate how coordinated action from even the smallest opponents can overwhelm a much larger foe—another metaphorical layer worth exploring.
Analogies like this are tools to explain the nature of the dynamic, not prescribe a literal outcome. The idea isn’t whether a dog can be slain by fleas (or fire ants), but how persistent, smaller threat can disrupt a stronger opponent and change the balance of power, thus the outcome of the conflict.
Anyone else see parallels between foreign militaristic insurgencies and domestic activist insurgencies? Beware of fleas, fire ants and purple hair!
Absolutely! When I first shared my analysis of insurgency principles years ago (now the podcast episode), some people misinterpreted it as fear-mongering—thinking I was labeling certain domestic groups as insurgencies, rather than exploring the parallels. Glad you caught the nuance!
I was listening to a podcast earlier that was describing how a small organized groups of employees with an axe to grind have been able to bring large companies to their knees not only for fear of backlash but even fear of physical violence in the workplace. Nuance is right but also brings it closer to home when thinking about application to our own lives in the here and now.
For sure! We’re living in a world where people are incentivized to build victimhood narratives. When those stories collapse or aren’t being affirmed, some people acting out of their grievances- real or imagined - will strike out.
Dear Pearl, there’s been a Strategic Snap. Of all things it began with Mr. Voelz’s literal tale of Fire Ants 🐜 killing cows, in response to my remark no Flea kills a dog. Rising to the Implied challenge, I harnessed technology to spin a tale of the Fire Ants liberation of animals farm.
A proper use of tech indeed 😂