Defense Science Board Force Protection Panel Report to DSB
Abstract
The 1996 bombing of Khobar Towers in Saudia Arabia refocused the Department's attention on a problem that is not at all new to the military, namely that of force protection. Protecting forces, infrastructure, and lines of communication have long been part of any military mission whether it be active combat in the Gulf or a peacekeeping mission in Bosnia. Force protection is an enduring command responsibility. Khobar Towers, like Beirut more than a decade before, had a sobering effect on the US military, the event highlighted the difficulty of protecting forces and the potentially devastating consequences of an attack. To reduce risks, force protection must become a way of life for every member of the US Armed Forces, whether stationed in the United States or abroad. It must become part of the culture or state of mind in every day operations and a central component of mission planning and execution. What is it that has changed about this mission? Some argue that while the tactics and tools of force protection have changed very little, there has been a significant change in the nature of the threat. Today's forces face a new and more complex threat: the transnational threat. Transnational adversaries appear to be growing more sophisticated and appear to be increasingly interested in inflicting mass casualties and extensive destruction. Further, the inability of these adversaries to threaten the United States with traditional military force drives them to the use of other weapons - high explosives, chemical and biological agents, and potentially even nuclear devices. Moreover, the United States is no longer a sanctuary and is vulnerable on its own soil. This trend has implications both for force protection and protection of civilians at home.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA432505
Entities
Organizations
- Defense Science Board