Re-Examining Tomorrow's Battlefield: Taking the Fight Into the Cities. Volume S03-01
Abstract
Americans and our allies are not the only ones glued to the television lately! One can be sure that enemies of the United States not directly engaged by the invasion of Iraq have likewise been watching intently and learning. Now, more than ever, the U.S. military's overwhelming dominance in Iraq has guaranteed that future adversaries will pursue every conceivable asymmetric advantage to offset their conventional and technological inferiority. The U.S. Armed Forces are vulnerable on a number of fronts. Enemies are sure to exploit domestic sensitivities about friendly and enemy casualties, manipulate the media and world opinion when possible, and leverage political tensions within and outside multinational coalitions. Likewise, terrorism involving noncombatants is a vulnerability that is difficult to overcome, as illustrated by the 9-11 attacks, the use of human shields and guerrilla-style ambushes at checkpoints in Iraq, and the recent car bombings in Saudi Arabia and Casablanca. Similarly, the use (even the mere threat) of Weapons of Mass Destruction such as the U.S. anthrax attacks in 2001 will continue to pose a significant challenge to military forces. Beyond these tactics, however, is the broader medium for armed confrontation, the venue that will provide the greatest advantage to the enemy relative to U.S. capabilities and vulnerabilities: Urban Warfare.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2003
- Accession Number
- ADA423884
Entities
People
- Steven M. Jones
Organizations
- United States Army War College