又中又英 | A war of attrition | 褚簡寧

　　In a recent column, I explained the term “asymmetric warfare”. It is a type of warfare in which weaker nations can successfully defend themselves against more powerful nations by using weapons such as inexpensive locally made drones to attack their opponents. Both Ukraine and Iran are using asymmetric warfare against Russia and the US. There is another type of warfare being used in the US-Iran war and the Russia-Ukraine war. It is called a war of attrition. A war of attrition is a war fought over a long period of time during which each side tries to exhaust the other until one runs out of weapons, soldiers, or loses morale, ending the war.

　　When Russia invaded Ukraine over four years ago, Russian President Vladimir Putin was sure he could quickly win. But Ukraine fought tooth and nail, which means to use all your energy and resources to achieve something. The Russia-Ukraine war has now become a war of attrition, with numerous soldiers dead or injured on both sides. President Donald Trump was also confident of a quick victory when the US and Israel jointly attacked Iran five months ago.

　　But Iran did not wave the white flag, which means to surrender. It fought tooth and nail. The US-Iran war has become a war of attrition. The Russia-Ukraine war is being fought with boots on the ground as well as with missiles and drones. Boots on the ground means soldiers physically present in a place. The US-Iran war of attrition is being fought with missiles and drones only. Trump is reluctant to put boots on the ground in Iran.

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　　在專欄最近一篇文章中，我解釋過asymmetric warfare這個術語。它就是較弱的國家對着較強大的國家，仍能透過使用某些武器，例如本地製的廉價無人機去攻擊敵軍，而成功保衛自己的戰役。烏克蘭和伊朗對抗俄羅斯和美國時，都是非對稱作戰（asymmetric warfare）。在美伊戰爭和俄烏戰爭中，還用了另一種作戰模式。它被稱為a war of attrition。是消耗戰，即在漫長的時間裏，雙方都嘗試消耗對方，直至其中一方用盡武器、士兵，又或士氣消磨殆盡，而終結戰事。

　　四年多前當俄羅斯入侵烏克蘭時，俄羅斯總統普京確信他定能快速戰勝。然而，烏克蘭 fought tooth and nail，意即全力以赴，用盡精力和資源去達成某事。俄烏戰爭現在已成消耗戰（war of attrition），雙方士兵傷亡慘重。五個月前，當美國和以色列聯手攻擊伊朗時，總統特朗普亦信心十足，認為可以快速獲勝。

　　可是，伊朗並未wave the white flag，意即舉白旗投降。他們也是奮力抗爭（fought tooth and nail）。美伊戰爭已成為消耗戰（war of attrition）。俄烏戰爭在用導彈和無人機以外，亦是以boots on the ground作戰。 Boots on the ground是指派到現場的地面部隊。美伊的消耗戰（war of attrition）則只用導彈和無人機。特朗普不願意派駐士兵（boots on the ground）到伊朗作戰。

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Michael Chugani褚簡寧
中譯：七刻