Does the Theater Commander Really Know the Enemy? A Case for the Standing Theater "Red Cell"
Abstract
Post-Cold War operational planning occurs in a multi-polar environment that lacks a true peer competitor. The diverse nature of current military threats is compounded by the threat of asymmetric warfare designed to exploit critical U.S. military vulnerabilities. The publication of "Unrestricted Warfare" by two People's Liberation Army colonels in China is suggestive of the nature of future adversaries. It is this author's contention that current operational planning is not suited to: (1) planning operations against a future, asymmetric adversary; and (2) countering the operations of said adversary. This author will propose the establishment of a standing "Red Cell" on each theater CINC staff. This paper will provide an overview of projected asymmetric threats, the functional nature of the "Red Cell". It will detail the benefits such an organization would offer the theater CINC to better exploit an enemy's critical vulnerabilities to achieve the enemy's culmination while deflecting an enemy's efforts at friendly culmination.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 08, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA378507
Entities
People
- Donald L. Cline Ii
Organizations
- Naval War College