Gates' West Point Speech: Returning to Rumsfeld's Vision of Future Warfare?
Abstract
During the recent decade, the U.S. Army primarily operated in the counterinsurgency environment following relatively short conventional combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. With the current number of failed states in the world and the likelihood of more, military analysts predict an increase in the potential of conducting more military stability operations versus conventional military operations. The Secretary of Defense recently commented on the lack of potential need or desire to commit significant conventional forces into a fight in the near future. Many experts would agree that a professional military force can only train and equip to be fully effective in one environment, either conventional or stability operations, but not both. Given current Army doctrine and the CSA's directive to be prepared to execute full-spectrum operations, what is the correct structural guidance for the Army to embark on in preparing for future national defense requirements?
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 25, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA565134
Entities
People
- Ricky J. Nussio
Organizations
- Center for Strategic and International Studies