Comprehensive Erosion: The 21st Century American Way of War
Abstract
The dispute over the definition of an American Way of War is a product of the 1973 publication of Professor Russell Weigley. The Weigley thesis captivated a broad audience and created an entire subdivision of American military history, initiating a debate that continues to this day. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff entered the discussion in March of 2010 with a declaration that there is no way to define the American Way of War. This project examines the historic foundations of the annihilation versus attrition argument and contends that the United States has maintained a preferred American Way of War that the author terms "Comprehensive Erosion." He demonstrates that the United States has employed a strategy of Comprehensive Erosion in the initial campaigns of the 21st century. This strategy is codified in current joint doctrine and will likely continue as the American Way of War for the foreseeable future.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 12, 2010
- Accession Number
- ADA526441
Entities
People
- Patrick K. Dixon
Organizations
- United States Army War College