A Military Strategy for the Persian Gulf
Abstract
Devising a military strategy is an intellectual exercise. As much art as science, it is the stuff of soldier scholars. Strategic thinking requires the ability to blend abstract concepts with concrete realities. Military strategy at the higher levels is more than merely a plan which links ends with means. It must be consistent with and serve our national, or grand strategy. It must bridge Clausewitz's distinction between things, "... that are merely preparation for war, and war proper." It would seem that strategic thought and planning in the abstract would be an anathema to the stereotypical "man of action" military leader. While it appears that great strategic thinkers are born, not made, it also appears possible to learn strategic patterns of thought based of, principles derived from historical examples. The Art Grant framework is a vehicle for analyzing and developing military strategy. In its simplest form, it consists of factors which lead the strategist through the classic elements of strategy---a plan linking ends and means. There is a real danger of oversimplification here: it's not as easy as it seems. The steps in the framework are questions---not answers. The questions are difficult, often there's not enough data; inspiration, judgment and assumptions are necessary. Faulty judgment, impaired logic, or bad assumptions will lead to disaster. This is where art and inspiration leave science behind, and lead one to the conclusion that a military strategy is never complete. Since military strategy achieves life in the form of a plan, it is subject to a host of constantly changing variables. Therefore, it must be seer, as a continuing process rather than as a task to be finished. Within all of that in mind, we will devise a military strategy for the Persian Gulf. We will use the Grant framework as a start point for inspiration rather than as structure which confines our thoughts.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 09, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA437004
Entities
People
- William B. Lynch
Organizations
- National War College