Asymmetrical Warfare

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Asymmetrical Warfare, Guerrilla war, poem, poetry, Triolet, Unwinnable wars

𝐀𝐬𝐲𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥  𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐞

The powerful complain that it’s not fair

When they are badly beaten by the weak.

When weaklings bring ignoble force to bear,

The powerful complain that it’s not fair.

The weak by any means may trap or snare;

By treachery and cunning havoc wreak.

The powerful complain that it’s not fair

When they are badly beaten by the weak.

— D.N. O’Brien

Small War Couplets

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Afghanistan war, Australian poet, Futile wars, Kalashnikov AK-47, poem, poetry, Rhyming couplets, taliban, Unwinnable wars

Small War Couplets

When you can’t tell the foe from your friend,
History tells us – such wars never end.

But we’re winning – we’ll banish the foe!
If you do, he’ll return when you go.

We have rockets and choppers and drones!
But the Taliban have their smart phones.

His insurgency, with science, we’ll stifle.
He’ll just hide in the hills with his rifle.

But I’m telling you – we have the gear!
And your fighters – are they without fear?

But we’re winning in Afghanistan!
No you’re not – though you did get a tan.

What! A tribesman! Should I fear a peasant?
Being shot from long range isn’t pleasant.

A Kalashnikov! – that’s an old gun!
It will still put a hole in you son.

Moon Dance

Tags

Afghanistan, limerick, poem, poetry, The Middle East, Unwinnable wars, Vietnam

When the good and the bad look the same,
We are playing a zero-sum game.
With the good the bad hide
As they ebb like the tide,
Then they flood, and the land they reclaim.