The Ever-Changing Context of War and Power: Toward the Rubicon
Abstract
Despite having the most powerful military in the world, the United States continues a kinetic fight with terrorists and insurgents in Iraq, Afghanistan and other ungoverned spaces. The global war on terrorism is beginning to exhaust both allies and the American public. The perilous risk of weapons of mass destruction/effects (WMD/E) remains a real threat. Technological transformation continues to be thought of as a panacea for smaller force structures to carry out network-centric wars. There is a desire to remove physical risk from the equation. The shifting sands of the world demographic composition along with a rise of sovereignty-free transnational actors, increasingly pressure nation-states and Westphalian principles. Ever since the Soviet Union's iron curtain melted under America's intense economic furnace, the United States has tested multiple national strategies but still struggles with the idea and definition of a grand strategy. The human dimensions of war grow more distant as the United States moves further toward a point of no return in the modality of war. The United States must move forward with a full debate (to include ethicality, need, risks, return and efficacy), on the primary, secondary and tertiary effects of our future technology decisions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 30, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA469605
Entities
People
- Charles J. Shivery Jr.
Organizations
- United States Army War College