Bad Moon Rising: An Analysis of Tet for Today
Abstract
While the author was discussing the current problems in Kosovo and Bosnia with a friend, the friend commented that the solution seemed simple enough, if the United States as a nation just had the guts and brains to use its clearly superior power. After all, the United States is, without a doubt, the most powerful nation on earth. There is no way that a Serbia, Bosnia, or Kosovo can compete with it, militarily or otherwise. "So why," he asked, "don't we just use our military might to convince them to do what we want?" While the author was trying to come up with a clear explanation of why it isn't that simple, the Vietnam War came to mind. The answer to his friend's question seemed rooted in an understanding of the nature and purpose of war, and in particular, the war that one is considering entering. The war in Vietnam exemplifies what can happen when the nature of the war is misunderstood or ignored, and when the war's purpose is unclear. Clausewitz said that "the first, the supreme, the most far-reaching act of judgment that the statesman and commander have to make is to establish the kind of war on which they are embarking; neither mistaking it for, nor trying to turn it into, something that is alien to its nature." The Tet Offensive of January 1968 and its aftermath provide a superb case study of the importance of understanding the nature and purpose of war. The utility of such a study is to apply the understanding gained through the analysis to future conflicts, to avoid repeating old mistakes, and, hopefully, to help explain to others why using military power is never simple.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 02, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA442527
Entities
People
- James W. Lukeman
Organizations
- National War College