The False Divorce: Retying the Knot of War and Peace
Abstract
September 11th abruptly changed the military's paradigm for engagement and thrust transformational efforts to the fore. Since then, the U.S. military, active, Guard, and reserve, has found itself stretched thin and not optimally organized, trained or equipped to perform many of the types of missions it is performing today in Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere in the global war on terrorism. Further complicating this situation is the reality that there is no other organization available to perform the missions it is performing, the ones that straddle the line between peace and war, that increasingly confront our nation around the globe. Correcting this situation will take some changes in our military culture and focus. We must recognize that it is in our national security interest to perform stabilization operations as an integral part of military operations. To accomplish this mission we will need additional capabilities, training, equipment, and military occupational specialties. We must become as efficient and effective in performing stabilization operations as we are in warfighting. Implementing these changes will require time, something the military seldom has enough of, given its size, its current and projected operational tempo, and the threats facing the nation. Although much change already is underway, the real challenge facing the military will be not only to implement innovation and change without wasting resources, but also to continue to evolve and adapt well in advance of future challenges and threats.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 07, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA433250
Entities
Organizations
- Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory