Quote Originally Posted by William F. Owen View Post
In 3,000 years of recorded history, the vast majority (99%) of defeats inflicted upon of irregular forces have been as a direct result of killing and capturing them.
Tztztztz, a daring statement.

For one, I doubt that anyone has done a reliable empirical study to back this up.

Second, I'm sure that lots of compromise peace agreements have been made. I recall many such agreements from history books.

Third, those agreements were most likely nothing the rulers were bragging about (and thus didn't enter official history).

Fourth, some insurgencies defeat themselves because they cannot sustain their effort logistically (the relief force at Alesia and Sitting Bull's army, for example).

Fifth, some insurgencies failed when their leader dies of natural causes.

Finally, even the proven tactic of taking hostages most likely made up more than a per cent. I've read quite often about that in history books as well.