Legitimacy as an Operational Factor: An Alternative Analysis
Abstract
Joint Pub 3-0 defines operational art as the application of creative imagination by commanders and staffs supported by their skill, knowledge, and experience to design strategies, campaigns, and major operations and organize military forces. Among the numerous components comprising operational art, operational factors space, time, and force have been recognized as decisive for making decisions at all levels of war. Legitimacy is now being touted as a fourth operational factor based on claims it is as pervasive across the range of military operations as factors space, time, and force. This paper provides a dissenting opinion, offering an alternative analysis that legitimacy is best viewed as a principle of war vice operational factor. The analysis contrasts factors space, time, and force with legitimacy to demonstrate how legitimacy's abstract nature constrains its relevance at the operational level to application of the law of armed conflict.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 23, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA463914
Entities
People
- Stephen E. O'rear
Organizations
- Naval War College