Louis Lingg writes "Beginning in the last decade of the last century military theorists and futurists began discussing the features of what they charecterized as Fourth Generation Warfare (4GW), the next step in the evolution of the art of war.

Some of its features include: fighting in a complex arena of low-intensity conflict; fighting worldwide through and across a spectrum of political, social, economic, and military networks; and involving a mix of national, international, transnational, and subnational actors. In 4GW the distinction between civilians and combatants is blurred, and even more ominously, so is the distinction between war and peace.

Defense and the National Interest has posted numerous articles, essays and papers addressing Fourth Generation Warfare, including the seminal and prescient The Changing Face of War: Into the Fourth Generation, published in 1989.

LtCol Thomas X. Hammes' The Evolution of War: The Fourth Generation is considered to be the best introduction to 4GW concepts and theories, and respectfully uses examples from the Chinese Revolution, Vietnam, Nicaragua and Palestine.

Of special and timely interest is an examination of the Bush regime's dubious campaign in Afghanistan, and two cases studies providing abundant charts and maps and statistical and other data: Afghanistan, the Taliban, and al-Qa'ida and The "Al-Aqsa" Intifada."