Che's "Guerrilla Warfare"

[Paradox]

I just ordered Guerrilla Warfare by Che and I wanted to know, have any of the ideas Che posed ever been used successfully in a guerrilla struggle?

[Colombia]

None at all.

What would make you go out and order it anyway? Planning on starting a revolution my friend?

[Paradox]

What would make you go out and order it anyway? Planning on starting a revolution my friend?

Revolution? No, I don't plan on starting one. Not yet, anyway. Besides, most of what Che wrote would now be considered outdated, no? I just wanted to buy something written by Che himself, so I started with this.

[bunk]

it should include the tri-continental speech calling for two, three, many vietnams to destroy capitalism.

[FriedFrog]

Its a good book. I own a copy. It's not just about theories and tactics for revolution, it also lets you into the mind of what Che was trying to achieve, and what his motives were, for the Cuban revolution. Mine also has the Tri-Continetntal Speech, which is also interesting.

[NovelGentry]

I think a lot of what the book has to say has a great deal of value. It would require adaptation of course depending on circumstances, but if I'm not mistaken Che makes that a point in the writing. Some of it's not to specific though.

[Latifa]

Originally posted by [email protected] 29 2004, 03:56 PM
None at all.

Surely it has been used in lesser street battles?

[Paradox]

Surely it has been used in lesser street battles?

Speaking of "street battles," what about Fighting In the Streets: Urban Guerrilla Warfare, by Urbano? Urbano was in Bolivia with Che, right? Has anyone here read his book? I'd like to get a copy of that as well.

[Paradox]

Surely it has been used in lesser street battles?

Doesn't Che's book just focus on rural guerrilla war?

[Karl Marx's Camel]

Besides, most of what Che wrote would now be considered outdated, no? I just wanted to buy something written by Che himself, so I started with this.


Not really. It's only 40 years old.

War Strategy does not change very much, actually. The tactics might change from time to time, but strategy change very little. Especially considering the primitive style of a guerilla force, you might as well consider it up to date.


I suggest you check this site out:

www.bellum.nu


It also has Guerilla Warfare by Che.



Doesn't Che's book just focus on rural guerrilla war?



Yes.




Speaking of "street battles," what about Fighting In the Streets: Urban Guerrilla Warfare, by Urbano?

Haven't read it. But I would like too.


Urbano was in Bolivia with Che, right?


That is correct.


This is a must read. It's over 2000 years old, but it is one of the best works regarding military tactics and strategy (http://www.bellum.nu/wp/suntzu/szaow.html)


This is a must read concerning guerilla warfare (http://www.bellum.nu/wp/cm/cmmotug.html). :)


This one may also be useful (http://www.bellum.nu/wp/mtt/mttogw.html)


Keep in mind that art of warfare is science, and in order to become a good military commander, you need to study military scicence like a scientist. Good luck, and please let me know how it goes, and if you have any questions please let us know.

[Paradox]

This one is a must read .


This one may also be useful


This one may also be very useful. It's over 2000 years old, but it is one of the best works regarding military tactics and strategy

Thanks for the links. I've read parts of the minimanual by the Brazilian guy. I printed out parts of it. Haven't read Mao's book though. The Art of War, I want that book too. Maybe I'll get it next time, along with Urbano's book. That'll be some interesting, maybe even useful reading. You never know. ;)

[PRC-UTE]

Che's book is good, I've read it, and it reminded me quite a bit of 'Guerilla Days in Ireland' by Tom Barry. The themes of resisting encirclement, fighting to just keep going, are constant themses in both books. But the conditions that Che and the West Cork IRA fought in are quite unlike today unless you live in Nepal or Columbia. There are very similar wars unfolding there.

For people in most advanced capitalist countries, Che's ideas are not very useful. Che is mostly so well-remembered because he is an icon of resistance and very inspiring.

The doctrines of guerilla warfare are basically irregular forces who seek refuge in hills or jungle or other terrain that is difficult for a conventional force to hold. Hit-and-run attacks thin the enemy until you can actually liberate small territories. You use these areas to launch even larger attacks, until you march on the enemy's HQ or capital.

It will only be successful in semi-colonial underdeveloped countries, and the most you can achieve is the overthrow of an unpopular regime and perhaps some degree of nationalisation. It's not the same as a full-blown revolution, although it's a necessary step towards one.

I think what would interest you more is Revolutionary Warfare -- street battles and the like. To learn more about that I would seek out info about the Spanish Civil War (for example, the brillaint resistance of Bracelona). James Connolly's Insurrectionary Warfare (http://www.marxists.org/archive/connolly/1915/rw/revwar.htm) might be a good place to begin.

[king Royale]

NotWeirdOnlyGifted, your links looked awesome but for some reason they're down.

[bunk]

Guerrilla warfare can be applied in urban situations OglachMcGlinchey, in some cases more effectively. Although i think it is as it's best starting in rural situations, and following Mao's three stage guerrilla war as you described.

[h&s]

I have got a copy of the book, Tri-Continental speach and all, and I must say that from a Guerrilla's point of view it is very good. From a communist's point of view though, I would say it is utter bullshit. To say that the conditions for revolution can be created by attacking the army in the countryside, away from the mass of the proletariat is just stupid. He talks of the need to 'indoctinate' the people into a certain way of thinking. He is not interested in the working people, just the overthrow of capitalism.

[bubbЯubbgoeswoo]

I'm thinking about buying it for my own "purposes". No doubt parts will need to be adapted if you are going to put your plan into action. We all talk about changing the world, well, talk is cheap, put it into action.

[refuse_resist]

Guerrilla Warfare by Che is excellent, I would highly recommend that to anyone who hasn't read it yet. I would also like to read On Guerrilla Warfare by Mao, which is supposed to be alot better than Che's. Che actually borrowed some of Mao's techniques.

[Guerrilla22]

Yeah, like refuse resist said, Che borrowed quite a bit from On Guerrilla Warfare by Mao and tweaked some of his tecniques so they could apply in Cuba and other places. Mao's book has been utilized by just about every military in the world, and its was studied by the US to develop counter insurgencey tatics.

[sapho]

Guerilla warfare by Che is a short and great book to have.
I believe the insurgency in Iraq are using the tactics from the book to always stay one step ahead of the american troops. By the way, I read in a newspaper that an american troop got in trouble because he told his commander he should read the book in order to defeat the iraqui resistance.

[bubbЯubbgoeswoo]

it is a good read I finally got it and read.some things would need to be adapted for sure, but it is a good basic guide.

[Xanthor]

I just ordered "Guerilla Warfare" as well as "Global Justice". Does anyone know if "Global Justice" is a good read?

[Chapter]

I actually just got this in the mail today, just read most of the introduction which was pretty decent. The author of the introduction wrote something like "its more of a historical document now than a blueprint or manual for war" so I guess its nto the most up to date.

[Sabrina]

I just ordered "Guerilla Warfare" as well as "Global Justice". Does anyone know if "Global Justice" is a good read?

Global Justice is absolutely AWESOME!!!! I found it extremely interesting and deep as well as inspiring in the consciousness of its ideas. I actually lent it to someone at work because, you know, I try to do whatever I can to spread the word whether they ask to borrow it or not :P .

I actually just ordered Che's Guerilla Warfare a couple of days ago along with:
Motorcycle Diaries (I saw the movie already and it was really good. One thing I really felt good about while watching it though was the fact that I knew a lot of the stuff that was going to happen as the situations were coming up just from what I have already read.)
Che: A Memoir by Fidel Castro
Che: Self Portrait
Reminiscences of the Cuban Revolutionary War and
Revolution in the Air: From Malcolm and Martin to Lenin, Mao and Che

I've already read:
Bolivian Diary
Che: The Life, Death, and Afterlife of a Revolutionary (edited by Joseph Hart)
The African Dream (Che's diaries of the revolutionary war in the Congo)
The Che Guevara Reader
Global Justice (as mentioned above)
The Real Fidel Castro
and I'm reading Compañero (right now...almost finished).

Of course I heard about Jon Lee Anderson's biography on Che and how good it is, so I have it and still have to read it. As you can see I'm completely fascinated and inspired by Che, Fidel and the Revolution everywhere, but I still have so much to learn about all the other struggles in the rest of the world that I feel like I just don't have enough time in the day to read as much as I would like to. Anyway I love this website because there is just so much information exchange that it's a great way of keeping caught up with what's going on.

One last thing, Jon Lee Anderson, has also written a book "Guerrillas: Journeys in the Insurgent World" which looks at 5 insurgent movements: the Mujahedin of Afghanistan, the FMLN of El Salvador, the Karen of Burma, the Polisario of Western Sahara, and a group of young Palestinians fighting against Israel in the Gaza Strip. I just picked this one up this past weekend and I can't wait to read it too. Has anyone read this one?

[sapho]

Thanks for recommending global justice.
Concerning other struggles around the world, I am learning about the rebels in Nepal and thier growing popular uprising which are inspiring people worldwide. ;)