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War and the American Military

War and the American Military. Reality of Warfare. War will happen… At the worst possible time In the worst possible place With the worst possible enemy YOUR job is to wage war… better than the enemy. Professional Responsibility.

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War and the American Military

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  1. War and the American Military

  2. Reality of Warfare • War will happen… • At the worst possible time • In the worst possible place • With the worst possible enemy • YOUR job is to wage war… better than the enemy

  3. Professional Responsibility • Learn HOW we wage war in ALL of its forms—against ANY/ALL of our enemies • “Being a warrior is not an AFSC…it’s a condition of the heart!!!” – Gen Jumper

  4. Overview • Enduring Truths of War • Definition of War • Basic Themes of War • Viewpoints on War • Factors Dominating War • Elements of War

  5. Enduring Truths of War • An instrument of national policy • A complex and chaotic human endeavor • A clash of opposing wills

  6. Definition of War “War is nothing but a duel on an extensive scale… Each strives by physical force to compel the other to submit to his will… War therefore is an act of violence to compel our opponent to do our will.” ~ Carl von Clausewitz

  7. Enduring Truth #1 • War is an instrument of national policy

  8. Basic Themes of War • Politics and violence are intertwined • War is policy “…that fights battles instead of writing notes” • War is the continuation of politics with the addition of other means

  9. National Policy through War • War is a last resort of policy • We exhaust diplomatic efforts! • When military engages, the political process doesn’t stop • Bottom line: Success in war can only be measured by whether political objectives are achieved

  10. Better State of Peace Sir Liddel Hart • Wage war in a civilized manner • Law of Armed Conflict • Geneva & Hague Conventions • Rules of Engagement (ROEs) • Leave the combat zone better than when we entered it • Failure leads to unstable peace!

  11. Viewpoints on War • Realism • Holy War • Pacifism • Just War Theory (JWT)

  12. Realism • Wars are clashes of power and interest • Moral constraints should never be put above a nation’s self-interest • Focuses on military necessity, where all methods can or should be used to achieve victory: • Burning of Atlanta in Civil War • Bombing civilian centers in WWII Adolf Hitler

  13. Holy War • Wars aren’t merely human affairs: • Divine instruments of judgment • Authorized by God • God responsible for outcome • Cosmic battle between Good and Evil

  14. Pacifism “Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr. • Opposes war as a means of settling disputes and advocates use of arbitration, surrender, or even migration • Spectrum ranges: • Avoidance of war at all costs • War only as a last resort Mahatma Gandhi

  15. Just War Theory • Killing is morally unacceptable… • Determine when war is morally justified and define actions that are permissible • Focuses on: • Protection of non-combatants • Wage war by clearly defined rules • Bottom line: Fight for a just cause and employ just means St. Thomas Aquinas

  16. Enduring Truth #2 • War is a complex and chaotic human endeavor

  17. Factors Dominating War • Fog • Friction • Chance

  18. Fog Battle of Waterloo, June 1815 • Difficulty to see and understand what’s happening in battle • Once a literal “fog” • Now more figuratively: • Too much happening • Misinformation • Conflicting information • Overwhelmed with too much info

  19. Friction • Murphy’s Law at its worst! • Troops are lost • Bombs miss their target • Enemies don’t act as expected • Friction is that which seems easy in war planning made difficult in reality! “Everything in war is very simple, but the simplest thing is difficult.” ~ Clausewitz

  20. Chance Assassination attempt on Hitler Sinking of USS Indianapolis Col Stauffenberg Plain dumb luck and fortune.

  21. Enduring Truth #3 • War is clash of • opposing wills

  22. Elements of War • Participants • Motives • Objectives • Scope of War • Level of Violence • Means Used • Asymmetry

  23. Participants • State vs. State • Iraq-Iran War • Groups within a State • Former Republic of Yugoslavia • Non-State entities • IRA, Hezbollah, al-Qaeda, etc.

  24. Motives • Secular ideology—Communist vs. Capitalist • Ethnic/tribal hatred—Tutsis vs. Hutus • Religion—Crusade, jihad, etc. • Territory—German conquest in WWII • Economic gain—Hitler’s rise to power • Revenge—Spanish-American War • Preemptive—6-Day War of 1967 Usually a mixture of some or all the above!

  25. Objectives • Total: Political overthrow and/or extermination of your enemy (ethnic cleansing and/or genocide) • Limited: Concessions

  26. Scope of War • Global • WWI and WWII • Regional • Six Day War • Local • Bosnia, Somalia, Rwanda, etc.

  27. Levels of Violence • Total (Unlimited) War • Complete mobilization, both of forces and national resources (e.g., WWII) • Limited • Restrain forces being used

  28. Means Employed • Weapons of Mass Destruction • CBRNE • Conventional • Guerilla/Urban warfare • Irregular forces vs. Regular forces • Urban warfare brings its own unique challenges • Terrorism • Theme of modern warfare!

  29. Asymmetry • Adversaries NOT fighting the SAME war • Different motives, objectives, means, etc. • Capitalize on these differences • GWOT exemplifies this “unevenness concept….” Consider: • Are the participants the same? • Do we employ the same means? • Are our motives the same?

  30. Asymmetry (cont’d) • Poses very real threat to US interests • Consider 9/11 & Al Qaeda • Hijacked an AF = 75% success ratio! • Asymmetric warfare requires us to adapt our doctrine to counter this new threat • Adapt our own asymmetric capabilities • Capitalize on strengths our enemy can’t adapt to • Exploit our advantages from asymmetry

  31. Summary • Enduring Truths of War • Definition of War • Basic Themes of War • Viewpoints on War • Factors Dominating War • Elements of War

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