The following is an analysis of Iraqi guerrilla tactics and how they are influencing the course of the war. Tactics are part of the art of war -- the other parts are military strategy and operations -- and are responsible for preparing and conducting combat on a battlefield level. Accordingly, guerrilla tactics are about preparing and conducting actions, such as guerrilla attacks, on a battlefield level.Understanding guerrilla tactics will help explain how the war progresses, reveal important things about the guerrillas, indicate what kind of countertactics coalition forces will deploy and, taking into account all of the above, explain how the conduct and military outcome will be influenced in this war.
The best way to draw conclusions about Iraqi guerrilla tactics is to analyze first which targets the insurgents have attacked and then what types of attacks they have employed.
Here are links to two articles by a Middle Eastern Analyst from 2001 discussing asymmetric warfare in the Middle East since WWII between state and sub-state forces, if any reminder is needed of how effectively war can be waged by an apparently over matched force.
Asymmetry, The Estimate,August 24, 2001
"Asymmetric Warfare", The USS Cole, and the Intifada, The Estimate, November 3, 2000
They make plain why reports that we're applying methods used by the Israelis are not exactly encouraging, particularly in light of our very likely inferior intelligence assets compared to the IDF and Israeli security services. In fact the advantage in information probably goes heavily to the insurgents especially whenever newly reconstituted Iraqi police and military units are part of our security and operations.
Our quick conquest of Iraq was intended to establish an awesome reputation for our military. The actual result is likely to be the opposite, although thoughtful observers will still have to acknowledge our capability and prowess in conventional warfare against a similar enemy army. The myth of Osama bin Ladin was fed by the defeat of the formidable Soviet juggernaut in the mountains of Afghanistan, another cadre of Islamic heroes will probably emerge from Iraq's urban guerrillas who'll be propagandized as having driven us out of that country.
Given that we outspend the next 10 or so a(at least) nations combined on our armed forces that is a sorry outcome, independent of the casualties and destruction from the conflict. Its unbelievable that the architects of this futile insanity haven't been fired en mass.