Night Pacification Patrolling
ResearchPublished 1969
ResearchPublished 1969
Discusses some of the objectives and techniques characteristic of pacification patrolling. One definition of such patrolling is the conduct of frequent pedestrian tours within specified geographic boundaries in order to keep the people free from the enemy. Night patrolling is not conducted just to contact the enemy. In fact, the final objective of patrolling is no contact at all, provided that the state of peace is reached by deterrence of the enemy. Deterrence occurs when the enemy realizes the gains from an incursion are not worth the cost. The objective for Americans in night patrolling is conducting themselves so as to influence the future actions and beliefs of 3 categories of people: the villagers, the GVN patrollers, the enemy.
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