Irrational behavior normally generates a sound or motion signature. But one can unobtrusively feign tactical ignorance. Literally this stratagem says, “Feign foolishness instead of madness.”
Most U. S. and British troops have come to see all Muslim insurgents as tactically inept. They don't yet realize that their foe intentionally places poorly trained martyrdom volunteers in their path. With little strategie value, those volunteers are considered expendable. It is their handlers— the enemy recruiters! trainers fadvisers—who must be stopped. Many are Iranian special operators and as tactically proficient as their U. S. counterparts. Their “throwaway” personnel have accomplished two things: (1) fooling the Coalition as to the real source and sophistication of the insurgency, (2) facilitating the handlers' escape.
At times, it is better to pretend to be foolish and do nothing than brag about yourself and act recklessly. Be composed and plot secretly, like thunder clouds hiding themselves during winter only to bolt out when the time is right.
In Vietnam, the enemy threw satchel charges with no shrapnel into U. S. perimeters. At the time, Americans thought their foe to be stupid. As it turns out, the satchel charges were not intended to hurt anyone, only to keep their heads down during an assault. They were concussion grenades large enough to imitate impacting artillery shells. Enemy flash-bangs were found in Fallujah.
The foe in Iraq has not claimed tactical victory after every encounter. He cares more that the encounter happened. The event adds to the overall impression of chaos, thereby discrediting the Coalition's ability to establish order. Totally unconcerned with each event's success or failure, certain groups try to take credit for as many as they can. Mosul-based Ansar al-Sunna has claimed responsibility for incidents in almost every part of northern Iraq.
Secrecy begets success; openness begets failure. In military conflicts, it’s better to conceal than to reveal moves, to play dumb than to act smart.
In modern war, the side that first reveals its shape and intentions is often the one that loses. In every ostensible act, fake or otherwise, lies some clue to its underlying purpose in an overall plan. Total secrecy is frequently preferable to some type of deception. Of utmost importance to an Asian is remaining motionless upon the enemy’s arrival.
A Muslim insurgency has no shape, because it has no organizational structure. It initially encourages every malcontent to add to the chaos, because it later intends to assume overall control. Among criminal elements and guerrilla groups alike, there is the unspoken understanding that the strongest will establish a ruling alliance. The best finisher in the region is the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and its Iraqi proxies.
Stay motionless and hide one’s intention.**
To undertake military operations, the army must prefer stillness to movement. It reveals no shape when still but exposes its shape in movement. When the enemy exposes a vulnerable shape, seize the chance to subdue it.***
— Bing Lei, Essentials of War
In Iraq, enemy forces appear unwilling to maneuver against their U. S. counterparts. They prefer to let the U. S. forces come to them. Then, they watch for an opening.
The Asian equates Western pride with arrogance. He knows that the U. S. military claims to have won every battle since 1918 except for Bataan and Kasserine Pass. Under his more maneuver - (as opposed to firepower-) oriented definition of victory, such an accomplishment is statistically impossible. Thus, he considers the claim to he a fabrication and all U. S. commanders to he tyrannical automatons. He capitalizes on their blind acceptance of the U. S. interpretation of history. He does so by pretending to be less skilled at short-range encounters than he really is and to lose strategically important battles that he has really won. Most U. S. and British occupiers of Iraq will begrudgingly admit to their foe’s courage but not to any tactical ability. Very possibly, the Israelis felt the same way about the Hezbollah-led Palestinians right before having to leave Southern Lebanon.
Hide behind the mask of a fool, a drunk, or a madman to create confusion about your intentions and motivations. Lure your opponent into underestimating your ability until, overconfident, he drops his guard. Then you may attack."’
World History
