Seeking Victory at a Discount: The Impact of the Military-Technical Revolution on Force-Level Decisions During Planning for Operation Iraqi Freedom
Abstract
This thesis examines one central question: How did the paradigm shift of the Military-Technical Revolution impact force-level decisions for the initial phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003? This issue encompasses an additional question: namely, why did the Bush administration decide to dramatically reduce the force-level recommendations embodied by pre-9/11 Iraq war plans? By applying the theoretical construct of Kuhns paradigm shift to the notion of Revolutions in Military Affairs, I conclude that the Military Technical Revolution convinced military planners that a whole new strategy was appropriate for the era of the war on terror. This constituted a radical break with the manpower-heavy requirements of the previous Decisive Force paradigm. The thesis ends with implications for the current security environment, where rising tensions with China and Russia and a host of new technologies (artificial intelligence, hypersonic missiles, etc.) seem to some to offer the potential to remake warfare.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2023
- Accession Number
- AD1224691
Entities
People
- Kurt J. Gross
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School