I hypothesize that, while the groups discussed in this paper operated prior to receiving elite support, their ultimate success was dependent on that support. This ‘Elite’ support would come from substantial (~1 billion annually) Saudi/American funding and a joint CIA/Inter-Services Intelligence effort (Coll, 2004) (Vickers, 2023). Despite initially limited resources, the impact of KLA operations was profound – to the point that modern insurgent sniper tactics are largely credited to KLA operations (West, 2008). African Nationalist forces including ZIPRA are unique in their ‘Elite’ support. Though this framework is useful, and the chosen examples fit, it cannot be applied universally, insurgencies often succeed without exterior ‘Elite’ support.

Source: Washington Post June 06, 2024 23:57 UTC