1. War and the US 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 The Nature of War Definitions and Basic Themes of War
Viewpoints on War
Categories and Levels of War
Factors that Dominate War
Evolution of Warfare

5. Enduring Truths of War War is…
an instrument of policy, strategy, or culture.
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. War is an instrument of policy, strategy, or culture.
Enduring Truth #1
War is an instrument of policy, strategy, or culture.

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 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!
Sir B.H. Liddel Hart

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. Categories of War
Traditional Warfare: Force-on-force military operations using conventional capabilities.
Irregular Warfare: Struggle for influence over relevant populations which favors indirect and asymmetric approaches

17. Levels of War Strategic Operational Tactical
Addresses the issues of WHY and WITH WHAT we will fight and WHY the enemy fights against us
Operational
Determines WHAT we will affect, with WHAT courses of action, in WHAT order, for WHAT duration, and with WHAT RESOURCES
Tactical
Deals with HOW we fight

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

19. Factors Dominating War
Fog
Friction
Chance
Images: Napoleonic War re-enactment, the USS Indianapolis, and Coalition forces in a sandstorm in Iraq

20. Fog 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
Battle of Waterloo,
June 1815

21. 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

22. Chance Plain dumb luck and fortune. Assassination attempt on Hitler
Col Stauffenberg
Assassination attempt on Hitler
Sinking of USS Indianapolis
Background: USS Pearl Harbor, circa 1937

23. Enduring Truth #3
War is a clash of
opposing wills

24. Evolution of Warfare World War I—The Chemists’ War
World War II—The Physicists’ War
World War III—The Information Researchers’ War
World War IV—The Social Scientists’ War

25. World War I—The Chemists’ War
Decisive factor: New applications of chemistry and chemical engineering
Synthesis of gunpowder allowed war to continue long after natural supply of nitrates was exhausted
Development of weapons like poison gas was necessitated by stalemate of trench warfare

26. World War II—The Physicists’ War
Application of physics theories allowed for development of radar
Physics allowed for advancements in wireless communications
One major result—The atomic bomb!

27. World War III—The Information Researchers’ War
Investment in developing more effective information gathering capabilities
Exploitation of intelligence gathering systems played vital role
US ability to exploit intelligence led to the winning of the Cold War

28. World War IV—The Social Scientists’ War
Social sciences are becoming the difference makers
Knowledge about other cultures will be vital to winning this war
Winning the hearts and minds means winning the war
The focus must be on capturing the psycho-cultural high ground
Allows us to access new “weapons of war” like understanding and empathy

29. Summary The Nature of War Definitions and Basic Themes of War
Viewpoints on War
Categories and Levels of War
Factors that Dominate War
Evolution of Warfare