Protracted people's war

Protracted people's war is like a game of tag, but with soldiers and guns instead of kids and hands. When one army tries to take over another one, they usually want to do it quickly, with a big, flashy battle that will scare their enemies into surrendering. But protracted people's war is different.

In protracted people's war, the army that is trying to take over doesn't try to win with one big battle. Instead, they try to wear down their enemies over a long time, like a marathon runner who keeps going and going until everyone else gets tired and slows down. They do this by fighting in small, sneaky ways that don't use up too much energy or resources.

For example, imagine you're playing tag with your friends, but instead of racing around and trying to tag each other quickly, you decide to walk slowly and quietly, waiting for the perfect moment to tag someone when they aren't paying attention. You might also get other friends to help you by distracting the people you're trying to tag, or by blocking their path so they have to go the long way around. Even if it takes a long time to win, you're confident that you can outlast everyone else and eventually come out on top.

That's how protracted people's war works. The army that's trying to take over will use small groups of soldiers to attack their enemies when they're not expecting it. They might set traps, sabotage their weapons or supplies, or sneak into their bases to take out important leaders. They might also work to win the support of the people in the area, by providing food, medical care, or other services that the government isn't providing.

Over time, these small attacks and acts of kindness add up, and the army that's trying to take over gains more and more control. Eventually, their enemies get tired and give up, or they're too weak to fight back effectively. It's like winning a game of tag by slowly and steadily tagging everyone, one by one, until you're the last one standing.

Protracted people's war can be very effective, but it can also be very difficult and dangerous, since the army that's trying to take over is usually outnumbered and outgunned by their enemies. It requires a lot of patience, creativity, and bravery to keep going, even when things look grim. But if done right, protracted people's war can help a smaller, weaker army take on a larger, stronger one and win.