Nation Rebuilding and the Need to Consider It Within the Context of Strategic Bombing
Abstract
The quest for more humane war is receiving considerable attention within the various Services. Nonetheless, current trends indicate that initial engagement of the belligerent will be accomplished not through less intrusive methods, but through more intrusive methods. There is a very real risk that the United States is on a trend toward "bomb them into the Stone Age" and then send in the ground forces if they are required. This mentality appears to be a politicians dream come true; make a clear and unequivocal point and don't sacrifice a single American life in the process. It is also appealing to some senior military leadership in that there is again no requirement to send a large contingent of American ground forces into harms way. Lastly, the American people like the current method of waging war because it ensures the American ego is properly fed and nurtured. This ego nurturing maintains the position of United States supremacy within the worlds fighting forces through the use of technology not available to the remainder of the world. With all of the members of the Clausewitzian Trinity in agreement, one should be tempted to ask, "Why should the US the worry about its current tendency toward waging war from afar? The answer to the question is that high dependence on technological superiority could lead to devastating consequences.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 16, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA381719
Entities
People
- Max C. Mcclellan
Organizations
- Naval War College