What is the Post-War Role of the U.S. Military?
Abstract
The coherent employment of political, military, economic and informational instruments of national power to achieve strategic objectives describes U.S. national security strategy. Grand strategy, planned and executed using a comprehensive approach, can help define the future role of the U.S. military following the Iraq and Afghanistan campaigns. This context, coupled with the fiscal reality of a rapidly growing federal deficit, prescribes efficiency. This can be gained by utilizing existing capabilities more efficiently, by allocating authorities, roles and responsibilities more appropriately within the relatively new context of the modern global environment. This environment now includes new domains, most notably cyber, that complicate any assessment, and distribute power further. This distribution of power means that diplomacy is now complemented in international relations by information, another important, if not dominant factor. The rise of the information instrument of power has been impressive, to a large extent aided by social media. The military have a new reality to contend with, not one that limits them, but one that provides new opportunities, while exposing new flanks. Maneuver space is bounded by economic interdependence and the reality of a large federal deficit. The real challenge is how to position, resource and act within the environment that includes new global commons. Any action must be taken cognizant of the values held by the nation, and not unnecessarily compromise the view of the U.S. internationally.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 06, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA545730
Entities
People
- Philip M. Kelly
Organizations
- National Defense University