Strategic Surprise Attack

Abstract

This study reviews the open literature of surprise attacks and concentrates on the works of Roberta Wohlstetter, Barton Whaley, Michael Handel, Richard Betts, Alex Hybel, and Ariel Levite. The characteristics and causes of surprise are summarized and areas for additional research are identified. The author asserts that Western defense planning is geared to deterrence of an all- out, bolt-from-the-blue attack which is the most improbable form of surprise. Keywords: Literature surveys, Military intelligence; Deception; Strategic warning; Tactical warning.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1988
Accession Number
ADA199029

Entities

People

  • Stanley L. Mushaw

Organizations

  • Naval War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Counter WMD
  • Cyber
  • Engineered Resilient Systems
  • Human Systems
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Birds
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Intelligence Collection
  • Intelligence Cycle
  • Intergovernmental Organizations
  • International Conflicts
  • International Law
  • International Organizations
  • International Relations
  • Military History
  • National Security
  • Second World War
  • Surveillance
  • Treaties
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare
  • Warning Systems

Fields of Study

  • Education

Readers

  • Irregular Warfare and Special Operations Cyberspace Operations against Adversarial Threats.
  • Military History
  • Systems Analysis and Design