Operation Allied Force: A Lesson on Strategy, Risk, and Tactical Execution

Abstract

The U.S. seems to have developed a pattern of intervention since the end of the Cold War--actually adopting a new way of war. Absent a peer competitor, America has the ability and desire to intervene in conflicts that have little to do with vital national interests. Consequently, the U.S. has chosen to wage war, pursuing results that are not critical to the nation's strategic goals. This essay will draw the connection from strategic decision making to the tactical execution of America's interests while highlight the cost of intervening and the impact of strategic decisions from the perspective of military commanders at the tactical level. Additionally, this article will show commanders differing opinions and assumptions when it comes to accepting risks and their impacts on mission accomplishment. Finally, I make recommendations for incorporating risk assumptions at all command levels in future combat operations ensuring assumptions are explicitly stated and received.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2000
Accession Number
ADA431703

Entities

People

  • Charles Lyon

Organizations

  • National War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • C4I
  • Human Systems
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Defense
  • Air Force
  • Air Power
  • Aircrafts
  • Anti-Radiation Missiles
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Defense Systems
  • Electronic Countermeasures
  • Electronic Warfare
  • Intelligence Collection
  • Military Organizations
  • Nato
  • Test And Evaluation
  • United States
  • United States European Command
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies
  • Strategic Security Studies
  • Team-Based Human-Centered Cognitive Task Decision Making and Information Performance.