Are you referring to internal or external conventional troops?

Maoist Third Phase of an insurgency, or something else?

TR

Internal. If they were external, wouldn't that change it to a foreign invasion?

What I am thinking is basically parity. I can't think of a very good example right now, maybe Yemen? Maybe Hizbollah/HAMAS and the PA?

Of course if they have parity, its basically civil war, but the incumbents would probably consider it to be an insurgency.

Other possible examples - the Spanish Civil War

The French in The Vendee in 1793

I suppose any civil war would do.

So by your definition, you would consider our own War Between the States an Insurgency and the Confederate Armies conventional arms of the insurgent?

Were the American Colonies conducting an Insurgency?

It occurs to me that if you start your campaign with standing regular or conventional troops on both sides, it is not insurgency, but a conventional war.

IMHO, insurgencies are defined by the nature of the forces, their goals, and the tactics they employ.

TR

I don't consider the War Against Yankee Arson and Rape to be an insurgency, but did the Yankees at the time?

Did King George consider the American Revolution to be an insurgency?

Is it still conventional war if it is not between two separate states, but rather internal?

I would say that whether or not it is an insurgency would depend on which side of the conflict you are on. But given the definition of yours above, do not the WAYA&R and the American revolution meet the criteria?

I don't think "insurgency" is necessarily a negative term. Insurgencies can be good or bad, depending on the goals and the nature of the constituted government they are trying to over throw.

But I'm not sure that I agree that an unconventional warfare cannot be part of an insurgency, that insurgency has to be a subset of UW. Granted, that is the most likely scenario.

If you would, what is the nature of the forces, goals and tactics that would define them as insurgents?

I am thinking the use of subversion is somehow key in the definition of insurgency. I am hard-pressed to say how however. When is subversion, following the definition above, not used in conflict?

Bump.

More Words to Know
 

Could you throw up Overt, Covert and Clandestine out of the book for the younger crowd? The MSN still can not keep them straight.

Pete

overt operation. [JP 1-02] (DoD) An operation conducted openly, without concealment.

covert operation. [JP 1-02] (DoD) An operation that is so planned and executed as to conceal the identity of or permit plausible denial by the sponsor. A covert operation differs from a clandestine operation in that emphasis is placed on concealment of identity of sponsor rather than on concealment of the operation

clandestine operation. [JP 1-02] (DoD) An operation sponsored or conducted by governmental departments or agencies in such a way as to assure secrecy or concealment. A clandestine operation differs from a covert operation in that emphasis is placed on concealment of the operation rather than on concealment of identity of sponsor. In special operations, an activity may be both covert and clandestine and may focus equally on operational considerations and intelligence-related activities.

Hmmm! I guess that means we conducted clandestine operations in SOG in order to conduct covert operations by planting "funny ammo" attributed to the CHICOMs. ;)

some definitions
 

Men:
IMHO the bottom line definition of Revolution is whatever means we used to put us in power and Insurgency is whatever means the other guys use to try to take our power away.

If we are caught by surprise it was terrorism, unconventional, covert, guerilla, henious, terrible, atrocious, etc.

If we are defending ourselves it is called Counter- ***** whatever it is as we would never initiate hostilities would we?

So that all being said, what do we call what Teddy Boy (the swimmer), the Boxer Babe, schmuck face Schumer, Billary Klinton and the rest of the group who are marching to Kruschev's orders to destroy us from within using our own system?

An inquiring mind wants to know.

Joe L

Democracy in action.

TR