Operations Other Than War (OOTW): The Technological Dimension.
Abstract
The 'Operations Other Than War (OOTW): The Technological Dimension' Workshop was held at the National Defense University as the fourth in a series exploring advanced command relationships and technologies. This topic was selected because earlier workshops that explored command and control issues in peace operations had consistently highlighted the important role of technology in OOTW. This emerged as a qualitatively different problem from command and control in peace operations and a subject that needed to be examined in detail. The workshop sought insights into the process of determining what technologies are required for OOTW. The group also examined the complexities of introducing relevant technologies and discussed general and specific OOTW technologies and devices. This workshop was a departure from its predecessors in that the agenda was rich in presentations, with relatively little time available for detailed discussions. Because of its training and culture, the U.S. military has been somewhat reluctant to engage in OOTW. Nevertheless, such operations are becoming more common, in many cases subsuming traditional military missions. There are many reasons for this increased involvement. Some nations and groups tend to avoid direct confrontation with the U.S. military, but they still find ways to challenge the U.S. directly or indirectly. In other cases, internal problems in foreign countries cause conditions that U.S. policymakers cannot ignore. These can include, for example, loss of government control and resulting internal violence (as in Rwanda) or concerns about the possible spill-over of ongoing hostilities (as in the former Yugoslavia). In such cases, OOTW is seen as a way to lessen the effects of war or prevent it altogether.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1995
- Accession Number
- ADA310578
Entities
Organizations
- National Defense University