War and Urban Terrain in the Twenty-First Century
Abstract
Cities often have been major targets of military operations. The author examines the political, operational, and logistical reasons that made cities important in past conflict and suggests why this will continue to be so. The spread of urban sprawl throughout the world is only part of the cause; the motivation of adversaries and friends alike to seek refuge in these environments offers a more compelling reason for the U.S. military to give it serious attention. The desire to avoid operations in cities is quite understandable, given the high casualties and carnage that too often have accompanied such operations. However, it would seem unwise to assume we can always avoid such opera- tions. Rather it is prudent to seek ways to do much better in these environments. DoD is striving for major increases in joint war-fighting capabilities; military operations involving urban terrain are a part of that challenge. The formi- dable obstacles presented by the urban environment are factors that concept development and experimentation will need to address, at the strategic and operational levels, as well as the tactical.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA388446
Entities
People
- Williamson Murray
Organizations
- Institute for Defense Analyses