Quote Originally Posted by Bob's World View Post
“If there is an organized hostile force opposing the intervention, the primary objective in small wars, as in a major war, is its early destruction. In those cases where armed
opposition is encountered only from irregular forces under the leadership of malcontents or unrecognized officials, the mission is one of diplomacy rather than military.”
Well what I read from this, is in the event of of you needing to employ some form of diplomacy, you dust off Col Odom or similar skilled individual and deploy him. One unrecognised official, requires one "solider with some diplomatic training."- while it is still a problem is not a military problem.

I would also add that I do not find the 1940 Small Wars manual that useful or insightful. It is good but I don't hold it to be gospel.