Operating Beyond the "Box": Winning in the Asymmetric Battlespace
Abstract
Today's American way of war, born out of the mostly bi-polar Cold War environment, demonstrates a mindset derived from U.S. cultural, intellectual, and political history that has shaped it to the conclusion that there is one ideal way of making war and making peace. This paradigm has been supplanted by an asymmetric threat paradigm characterized by radically unconventional, non-linear, and unconstrained strategies perpetrated by adversaries of mostly non-governmental and non-state actors designed to exploit critical U.S. vulnerabilities. The synchronized and coordinated terrorist attack on September 11, 2001 can be considered the watershed event compelling unprecedented reformation of the U.S. National Security system affecting every instrument of national power. Focusing specifically on the military instrument of power, it is the contention of this author that current U.S. military operational capability can only yield limited success for it lacks the appropriate "tools and skill sets" vis-a-vis an adversary applying asymmetric strategies. Bounded at the operational level, this analysis proposes a fundamental change in mindset, emphasis on the right "tools," and a strategy rooted in asymmetric warfare itself. A resultant by-product of this analysis is the establishment of a "Black Cell" within the COCOM staff whose function is to formulate asymmetric strategies to place the operational commander in a better position to win in the asymmetric battlespace.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 03, 2003
- Accession Number
- ADA415437
Entities
People
- Ossen J. Dhaiti
Organizations
- Naval War College