Quote Originally Posted by selil View Post
Grad school works your fortitude up.

I have a "stupid" question. What is the difference between low intensity conflicts and small wars?
'Low intensity conflict' was the U.S.' doctrinal phrase during the 1980s and 1990s. In included counterinsurgency, support to insurgency, counterterrorism, and multinational peacekeeping. It was eventually replaced by military operations other than war, then simply operations other than wars.

So, I think there is a difference. "Small wars" would focus on the warfighting dimension. Some things which were part of low intensity conflict--peacekeeping and counterterrorism--would not, to me, be war.

Today, the primary doctrinal and strategy phrases are irregular warfare (IW) or irregular challenges, and stability, security, transition and reconstruction operations (SSTR)