{
  "id": 11599207,
  "title": "The 'weak' still hold the stones that can fell giants amid global wars",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/the-weak-still-hold-the-stones-that-can-fell-giants-amid-global-wars",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-03T04:00:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Mainichi",
    "slug": "the-mainichi",
    "url": "https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260930/p2a/00m/0op/026000c"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The small still wield the stones capable of toppling giants amidst global conflicts. This is the essence of asymmetric warfare, where the weak can overcome the strong through strategic targeting of critical points. The biblical tale of David and Goliath serves as a prime example of this fighting style. In Vietnam and Afghanistan, insurgent groups opted for guerrilla tactics, exhausting the powerful U.S. military and sowing war weariness. Modern conflicts employ far more advanced \"pebbles\" like drones. A CSIS report noted the spread of inexpensive unmanned aircraft as the democratization of airpower. Ukraine's massive drone attack on Moscow in June 2025 exemplified this, using affordable drones to target high-value military installations. Cyberattacks also follow this pattern, where a single vulnerability can cripple entire systems. Iran, outmatched by the U.S., is leveraging the strategic chokepoint of the Strait of Hormuz, driving up oil prices and navigational risks to exert leverage. The evolving technology and interconnectedness of global infrastructure have empowered the weak to strike at the vital points of the strong, reaffirming the age-old adage that the pebble remains in the hands of the weak.",
  "summary": "The \"weak\" strike at the vital points of the \"strong\" and turn an overwhelming gap in brute strength on its head. That is the reality of asymmetric wa",
  "key_points": [
    "Small groups wield stones to topple giants in asymmetric warfare",
    "Insurgent tactics exhaust powerful militaries, causing war weariness",
    "Cyberattacks and drones enable weak to cripple strong systems"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The weak can now more effectively challenge the strong by exploiting vulnerabilities through asymmetric tactics, advanced technology, and strategic targeting, blurring the lines of traditional military power.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}