The technologically superior enemy (T.S.E.) looks to minimize its own casualties and maximize the damage inflicted on the technologically inferior enemy (T.I.E.). The T.S.E. utilizes its relative strengths to seek advantage. It seeks to make its technical prowess obvious and overwhelming. The goal is to cause the T.S.E. to dominate and exercise control over the battlefield. The T.I.E. constantly looks for situations in which the technological advantage is nullified due to local knowledge of geography, climate, language, culture and other factors. It is by definition asymmetrical warfare and requires intense devotion to cause.
The T.I.E. to inflict shock on the T.S.E. by audacity and unpredictability. In some cases, the T.I.E. may utilize technology to equalize the playing field. In Iraq, the insurgents have used car bombs, bomb belts and various remote-control explosives to inflict disproportionate harm on the enemy. Insurgents also use sharp shooters and snipers to advantage. Impersonating the enemy's symbols, uniforms and practices has been repeatedly used in Iraq to fool the Americans and their allies. In the most elaborate hoaxes, the enemy prepares appropriate vehicles and other props to trick the T.S.E.
The T.S.E. has a tendency to hide behind its technology and defenses, because home country support for the conflict is not without limitation. Generally speaking, the T.S.E. is on the offensive in a strange land and as such, the conflict has engendered controversy and concern at home. The more the casualties on the T.S.E., the more difficult it becomes to justify and maintain the war effort. Thus, the T.I.E. must have an ample supply of fanatical supporters willing to sacrifice themselves in the pursuit of killing T.S.E. That is done in order to ensure fatal engagements and avoid allowing the T.S.E. the ability to investigate the structure and organization of the T.I.E. That requires an absolutist ideology to inspire T.I.E. devotees. Obviously, stealth and secrecy are of paramount importance to the T.I.E.
Irregular warfare is the refuge of the T.I.E. The insurgents follow no conventional rules of war, because they usually have no formal national government, something that the technologically superior force has taken care of. Thus, T.I.E. forces are always the "underdog". As such, the overall organizational structure may be unknown to any single individual in order to limit the risk of secrets being divulged. All individuals in the T.I.E. are disposable, as the T.S.E. may strike with fury at any point. It is truly a case of David (T.I.E.) and Golliath (T.S.E.) Effective public relations are critical to both parties. Each side attempts to minimize the public's perceptions of the accomplishments of the other and tries to manage the messages reported by the press. As the T.S.E. has the benefit of the conventional levers of power, the T.I.E. must develop ever more daring scenarios in the hope of forcing bad news to be reported in the home country of the T.S.E.
American forces have no living experience of engaging a technologically superior force, so our preparations, strategies and tactics have the limitations of our biases. Officially, acknowledging no weaknesses or shortcomings is part of the mentality of the dominating T.S.E. Thus, the battlefield knows no real limits and it involves fighting by proxy, almost as if it were shadow warfare. Since the T.I.E. has obvious disadvantages, it feels justified in use of civilians as safety shields and as cannon fodder. The T.S.E. response is to claim it also need not follow international rules of warfare, since the opposition doesn't. However, this "gloves off" treatment means the T.S.E. is subject to being accused of war crimes, as it has lost the moral high ground.
Ultimately, the reactions of both the T.I.E. and the T.S.E. are subject to societal expectations. The degree to which the T.I.E. is able to gain public support for their agenda is limited by the ability of the T.I.E. convince the public that its goals are in common. That requires that the T.S.E. be demonized in the eyes of the local populace. Atrocities are blamed on the enemy by both sides. All acts of violence are subject to interpretation, where one side is technologically superior. It is the staying power of the victor which ultimately causes one side to win and another to lose. The support of the public cannot be overlooked in any armed conflict.