Guerrilla Warfare: Authorized Edition

I am now fully prepared to engage in a guerilla war in the Americas.

This decision has been carefully considered and I have made all the necessary arrangements.

I have studied the terrain, the enemy's strengths and weaknesses, and have developed a detailed strategy.

The guerilla war will require stealth, agility, and the ability to adapt quickly to changing circumstances.

I am confident that I have the skills and determination to succeed in this endeavor.

I will work with a small, dedicated team of fighters who share my vision and are willing to make the sacrifices necessary for victory.

Together, we will use hit-and-run tactics to disrupt the enemy's operations and gradually wear them down.

The road ahead will be long and difficult, but I am ready to face any challenge that comes my way.

I believe that through our efforts, we can achieve our goals and bring about positive change in the Americas.

I'm not really certain about how effective a review I can pen for this book. I'm neither an authority on Cuba nor on Communism, and my knowledge of warfare is so far removed from Che Guevara's that it's impossible to pass judgment based on that either.

I can state that, personally, I derived more from this book in 2015 than I did from Reminiscences of the Cuban Revolutionary when I read it in 2009. I think I should also re-read Che's diaries at some point.

What struck me was the book's apparent utility as a manual for waging guerrilla warfare. Although it's informed by Che's experiences in the Cuban war of liberation, the actual events of that war aren't emphasized (until the final appendix). Che repeatedly acknowledges throughout that personal experience and criticism must be applied to make the tactics work. I doubt they'd still be effective in the 21st century, but fifty years ago, I could envision this book having actual, practical value for the guerrilla revolutionary.

The other argument that particularly caught my attention was that the guerrilla is a political soldier, inextricably linked to a particular form of revolution, political organization, and popular movement. A guerrilla isn't, as I had previously thought, a small army fighting against those with greater numbers, but an army with popular support but without the resources of the state - the military organization, preparation, and supplies given to those in positions of power, especially those supported by outside forces. The constant concern is never numbers but equipping those numbers with weapons, medical resources, and so on.

I have to say that reading the actual words of an iconic revolutionary was a truly remarkable and special thing to begin with - and this book holds a special place as a classic for me.

Most definitely, it is a military guidebook. It will have even greater significance for those who have delved deep into the study of the military arts and, in particular, the Cuban Revolution. It lays bare the paths that led to the defeat of the corrupt US-backed Batista regime. I was able to clearly see how each segment fit into the overall picture. Moreover, he also explores how other countries with diverse topographies and situations can strive towards achieving their freedom.

This book not only provides valuable insights into a specific historical event but also offers broader perspectives on the pursuit of justice and liberation. It is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of revolution and the power of ideas.

This is an outstanding complimentary book to Che Guevara's Reminiscences of a Cuban War. It is a must-read for anyone who has a genuine desire to fathom Guevara's ideology and psychology.

It delves into the tactics and strategies of guerrilla warfare with great detail, ranging from the high-level objectives to the practical day-to-day activities and nuisances.

For the average reader not engaged in a guerrilla war, it might seem a bit obscure, and many of the practical guides may appear slightly outdated. For instance, communication is presumably much easier in most parts of the world with mobile phones. However, for the interested reader, it is a relatively simple task to adapt the conditions Guevara presents to a modern urban guerrilla war.

Here, I am not referring to the type of wars we witness in Aleppo, which I do not claim to be able to contextualize with this book. Instead, I am referring more to the type of underground war being waged in many Western countries against an exploitative capitalist system. Concepts like the elevation of the political education of the local population could be applicable to boroughs or regions in cities today, or the need for flexible and continuously evolving tactics.

Overall, regardless of one's personal ideology, for any student of Guevara, I would regard this as a "must-read." It is a fairly short book, and at times, it may struggle to maintain the reader's interest. Nevertheless, to truly understand the author's convictions and mentality (which the reader will need to extract and deduce on their own), there is a great deal to be gained from this book. I highly recommend it, but it should be borne in mind that this is intended as a literal guide to guerrilla warfare.

I read this book mainly because of the cultural significance of its author.

From this perspective, I was not disappointed at all. In fact, I think the content offered interesting insights into a fascinating mind.

However, when it comes to providing a more in-depth critique, I don't feel that I am adequately equipped. This is because both the subject matter and the style are completely foreign to me. I lack the necessary background knowledge and understanding to fully analyze and evaluate the book.

Nevertheless, I still found the reading experience to be valuable and thought-provoking. It has broadened my horizons and exposed me to a different way of thinking and expressing ideas.

I look forward to exploring more works by this author in the future and perhaps gaining a better understanding of their unique perspective.

In addition to discussing the tactics of guerrilla warfare, some of which may no longer be applicable in the present context, the book also delves into its goals.

It emphasizes the necessity of violence in the process of seizing power. This is a crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when considering revolutionary movements.

Moreover, it explores the conditions that are essential for a successful revolution.

I would have preferred if the book had concentrated more on the latter aspects. However, given Che's significant role in Cuba's revolution, it is understandable that he writes about what he knows best. His personal experiences and insights have无疑 added depth and authenticity to the book.

Overall, it provides a valuable perspective on the complex nature of guerrilla warfare and revolution.

He thought it was a diary but it is a tutorial.

At first glance, he was under the impression that the document in front of him was a personal diary. However, as he delved deeper into its contents, he realized that it was actually a detailed tutorial.

The text was structured in a way that provided step-by-step instructions and explanations on a particular subject. It was filled with useful tips and examples that could help someone learn and master a new skill or concept.

Perhaps the author had intended for it to be a diary initially, but as they wrote, they found themselves providing more and more instructional information. Or maybe it was a cleverly disguised tutorial, designed to engage the reader in a more personal and relatable way.

Whatever the case may be, he was now faced with a tutorial instead of a diary, and he was eager to see what he could learn from it.

If you want to read Che’s Guerrilla Warfare, it is advisable to choose the edition with the foreword by Harry Villegas (Pombo). Pombo was part of Che’s guerrilla in the Cuban Revolutionary War, in the Congo, and in Bolivia. There are two main reasons for this. Firstly, it contains the changes he made after the experience of the Congo. Secondly, it has a Pombo forward. Villagas also published a book on how the survivors got out of Bolivia, titled 'Pombo: A Man of Che’s Guerrilla,’ as well as several interview books, the most recent being ‘Cuba and Angola: The War for Freedom.’

However, if you aim to learn about Che Guevara, I would further suggest that this may not be the best starting point. First and foremost, one should read about how the Cuban revolutionaries came to power. This can be achieved through Che’s 'Episodes of the Cuban Revolutionary War,' and Armando Hart’s 'Aldabonazo: Inside the Cuban Revolutionary Underground.'

Too many people are attracted to Guerrilla Warfare not because they desire to read a serious Marxist book on the subject, but rather due to romantic notions. Worse still, some think it reveals how to make a revolution anywhere. It must be remembered that the majority of attempts at guerrilla warfare ended in defeat. Che in Bolivia had a real opportunity, provided everything had gone according to plan (as seen in 'The Bolivian Diary of Ernesto Che Guevara' (Pathfinder edition) and 'Fertile Ground: Che Guevara in Bolivia'), but unfortunately, everything went awry. Guerrilla warfare did play a role in the victory of the Sandinistas, but ultimately, an urban insurrection was the decisive factor.

The idea of guerrilla warfare in the US and Europe would be absurd, were it not for the fact that there were militants who attempted it and ended up dead, in prison, or in exile. It is not a suitable tactic for developed (imperialist) countries or for use in conditions of bourgeois democracy where legal work is feasible. At no time during the 1960s and 1970s was socialist revolution possible in the US. It was possible to build a revolutionary party. Today, the economic and social conditions for a socialist revolution exist both here and throughout much of the world (as seen in 'The Clintons’ Anti-Working-Class Record' and 'Is Socialist Revolution in the US Possible?'), but the working class is far too confused and demoralized. Nevertheless, it is still possible to continue building a revolutionary party.

Revolutions in the imperialist countries and the more advanced of the underdeveloped countries are far more likely to resemble the Russian Revolution (as seen in the History of the Russian Revolution). The socialist movement in Russia broke away from the traditions of the terrorist-populist movement (using the term terrorist in a scientific sense, not pejoratively), and instead focused on the working class. The fact that almost no legal work was possible under czarism did not hinder this. Bolshevism began with a national newspaper, not with guns.

Therefore, in my opinion, in addition to the works already mentioned, the most important writings of Che to read today are his political and economic works: 'To Speak the Truth,' 'Che Guevara Speaks,' 'Che Guevara Talks to Young People,' and 'Che Guevara: Economics and Politics in the Transition to Socialism.'