Rifleman Dodd: War and the Common People, Lessons Not Learned - Book Report/Review Example

With regard to the 'scorched earth' policy, Dodd accepted, as a loyal, well-trained fighting man from a good regiment, much like his modern counterpart, that Wellington's orders to sweep the country clear of every living thing in order to deprive the enemy of sustenance, were necessary. Despite evidence of the effects this had on the peasants, he judged it unimportant. In persuading people to destroy what little food they had, leaving nothing but sickly herds of sheep, to starve out the enemy, the stark vision of the real-life suffering of innocents caught in the middle, is clearly depicted.

The rapes and murders are also grim reminders of the degradation of the populace in any war, before or since. They call to mind children and women, old and young, mutilated and dead, amid the straw-roofed huts in Vietnam, women raped and terrorized by the victorious Russian Army in Germany in WW2, the German atrocities in Stalingrad, the many African conflicts where women were deliberately infected with AIDs, to name a few examples; there are many more. The hardened campaigner, though saddened, may tighten his belt and get on with the job in hand, which he is programmed to do, and in Dodd's case, as part of the 'liberating' force.

This attitude is not the result of lack of intellect but perhaps suggests that it is the only way all fighting men can get through the horrors, by focusing on military or personal objective. To become too emotionally or intellectually connected to real people would prove self-destructive and counterproductive if victory is to be won. The real casualties of war are the people who have no quarrel with anyone, just trying to live their lives, destroyed in the crossfire of two superpowers, fighting for economic, political, and territorial ideologies.

  Regarding the second point, on guerilla tactics, Rifleman Dodd and his Portuguese allies provide and explanation for what is termed 'asymmetrical conflict' and demonstrate the success of such strategies. Where powerful, superior forces fight away from home, on foreign soil, where the 'foreigners' may be perceived as less than human, (despite being allies), they use their superior resources to fight huge battles, engaging in conventional warfare. Nor are they fighting for their freedom or independence, as they already possess this.

On the other hand, the lesser military power in the country of conflict will fight to the death for these, using different methods suited to their inferior resources. Thus a small group, using less conventional methods, can do much damage, just hitting, running, and hiding, wearing down the better equipped and more technologically advanced force.Forester makes the point that Dodd would do "better work for England organizing the irregulars, than back in the ranks of the 95th". This holds true with regard to Vietnam when applied to the work of the Special Forces and Marines before Westmoreland went for the big fight scene.

The lesson from Dodd and Vietnam and many another on-going conflict, which seems not to be utilized fully, is that winning people over, working with the 'resistance' or guerilla forces, would be the better tactic to employ. Such counterinsurgency initiatives have a place now, as recent events in the Middle East would suggest. Conventional warfare is no longer viable, as conflicts now are between superpowers and small countries bent on fighting to the death with whatever methods they can devise.

With that in mind, surely there is a case for examining the work of the guerillas, the resistance groups, the Marines, and all who have been able to win the hearts and minds of the people. Perhaps then, more peaceful solutions would be the outcome, there is always hope.