DOCSLIB.ORG

American Culture, Military Services' Cultures, and Military Strategy

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
American Culture, Military Services' Cultures, and Military Strategy Calhoun: The NPS Institutional Archive Theses and Dissertations Thesis Collection 1998-12 American culture, military services' cultures, and military strategy Haynes, Peter D. Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School http://hdl.handle.net/10945/32645 '.. NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL Monterey, California THESIS AMERICAN CULTURE, MILITARY SERVICES' CULTURES, AND MILITARY STRATEGY by Peter D. Haynes December, 1998 Thesis Advisor: James J. Wirtz Second Reader: Daniel J. Moran Approved, for public r~lease; distribution is unlimited. Preceding Pages· Blank ---------- REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE Form ApproVed OMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instruction, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202-4302, and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (0704-0188) Washington DC 20503. 1. AGENCY USE ONLY (Leave blank) 2. REPORT DATE 3. REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED December 1998 Master's Thesis 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE American Culture, Military Services' Cultures, and Military 5. FUNDING NUMBERS Strategy 6. AUTHOR(S) Haynes, Peter D. 8. PERFORMING 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) ORGANIZATION REPORT Naval Postgraduate School NUMBER Monterey, CA 93943-5000 9. SPONSORING I MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) Defense Special 10. SPONSORING I MONITORING AGENCY Weapons Agency REPORT NUMBER 11. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES The views expressed in this thesis are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government. 12a. DISTRIBUTION I AVAILABIUTY STATEMENT 12b. DISTRIBUTION CODE Approved for public release; distribution unlimited. 13. ABSTRACT (maximum 200 words) The knowledge of one's culture is critical for success in statecraft and strategy. Yet, perhaps because it is so pervasive, the influence of one's own culture on strategy, defense preparation, and the conduct of war tends to escape notice. The influence of American culture on strategy, however, does not escape the notice of America's potential enemies. This thesis explores the Amencan approach to strategy from a cultural perspective. It examines characteristics of American culture and the cultures of the four US. military servIces, which influence the US. strategy-making process. It explains how these characteristics formed and how they might influence American strategy. Unlike traditional explanations of the US. military cultures, such as Carl Builder's The Masks of War, this analysis examines the services' cultures from a more operational perspective. This thesis emphasizes the role the services'· respective operating environments pIal in shaping their divergent perspectives on strategy, joint command structures, and doctrine. Cultural sel - knowledge allows American strategists to recognize when aspects of American culture and the cultures of the services ma make some strategies possible, desirable, or unimaginable. It allows American strategists to recognize wh en ooliticalleaders' ~oals and the services' strategies may be j>Oorly_ matched. 14. SUBJECT TERMS 15. NUMBER OF Strategy, military strategy, American strategic culture, organizational culture of the U.S. PAGES military services, Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps 139 16. PRICE CODE 18. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF 20. UMITATION 17. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF 19. SECURITY CLASSIFI- CATION THIS PAGE OF ABSTRACT REPORT OF ABSTRACT Unclassified Unclassified Unclassified UL NSN 7540-01-280-5500 Standard Fonn 298 (Rev. 2-89) Prescribed by ANSI Std. 239-18 298-102 Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. AMERICAN CULTURE, MILITARY SERVICES' CULTURES, AND l\fiLITARY STRATEGY Peter D. Haynes Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy B.A., University of Notre Dame, 1986 Submitted in partial fulfillment of the reqt:rirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS IN NATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS from the NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL December 1998 Author: Approved by: ~.. ~ Frank C. Petho, Chairman Department of National Security Affairs iii ABSTRACT The knowledge of one's culture is critical for success in statecraft and strategy. Yet, perhaps because it is so pervasive, the influence of one's own culture on strategy, defense preparation, and the conduct of war tends to escape notice. The influence of American culture on strategy, however, does not escape the notice of America's potential enemies. This thesis explores the American approach to strategy from a cultural perspective. It examines characteristics of American culture and the cultures of the four U.S. military services, which influence the U.S. strategy-making process. It explains how these characteristics formed and how they might influence American strategy. Unlike traditional explanations of the U.S. military cultures, such as Carl Builder's The Masks of War, this analysis ex~ines the services' cultures from a more operational perspective. This thesis emphasizes the role the services' respective operating environments play in shaping their divergent perspectives on strategy,joint command structures, and doctrine. Cultural self-knowledge allows American strategists to recognize when aspects of American culture and the cultures of the services may make some strategies possible, desirable, or unimaginjible. It allows American strategists to recognize when political leaders' goals and the services' strategies may be poorly matched. v TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................... 1 II. EARL Y AMERICA .................................................................................................. 15 III. MODERN AMERICA ............................................................................................. 27 IV. U.S. ARMY .............................................................................................................. 39 V. U.S. NAVY .......................................................... ;.................................................... 55 VI. U.S. AIR FORCE .. :................................................................................................... 71 VII. U.S. MARINE CORPS ............................................................................................. 87 VIII. CONCLUSION ....................................................................................................... 101 BIBLIOGRAPHy ............................................................................................................ 115 INITIAL DISTRIBUTION LIST .................................................................................... 123 VB ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank my professors at the Naval Postgraduate school. Bert Patenaude motivated me to examine different perspectives of international organizations and law and international relations. David Yost compelled me to contemplate the relationship between strategy and culture. Ken Hagan, Jan Breemer, and Mitch Brown helped me understand the fascinating "dim and religious world" of the world's greatest navy. Dana Eyre taught me to think critically. While.researching the thesis, Dana provided invaluable advice on understanding the relationship between culture and behavior. Chairman Frank Petho taught me how to lead and manage with humor and enthusiasm. Frank Teti and Claude Buss enlarged my mind and infused in me an undying passion for history. I take great pleasure in acknowledging my advisors, Jim Wirtz and Dan Moran. They challenged me to pursue excellence, endured my lapses of doubt, and meticulously edited this product. They have set an example for academic pursuit, thoughtful command of war and strategy, and enthusiastic mentoring that I hope someday to emulate. I will have fond memories of my time spent under their tutelage. Throughout my graduate studies I have drawn my strength from an enduring faith in God, family, and country. I thank God, for He deserves credit for any talent I possess or accomplishments I achieve. I thank my lovely wife, Monica, for her overwhelming support and love. The loving encouragement of my wife and our children continually sustains me. IX EXECUTIVE SUMlVlARY Strategy is not made in purely rational terms. Rationality is inherently conditioned by one's culture. Culture consists of a set of general and ordered beliefs, attitudes, and assumptions that establish pervasive and long-standing preferences. Culture is a sociologically based, ideational framework that either presents decision-makers with a limited range of options or acts as a lens that alters the appearance and efficacy of different choices. These cultures shape perceptions and affect what individuals notice and how they interpret it. It screens out some parts of reality while magnifying others. Because it imposes a degree of restraint on behavior, culture may make it difficult for states and militaries to develop sensible and realistic approaches to the strategic problems that confront them. This thesis explores the Americ"an approach to strategy from a c~ltural perspective. It examines
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Counterinsurgency in the Iraq Surge
    A NEW WAY FORWARD OR THE OLD WAY BACK? COUNTERINSURGENCY IN THE IRAQ SURGE. A thesis presented to the faculty of the Graduate School of Western Carolina University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in US History. By Matthew T. Buchanan Director: Dr. Richard Starnes Associate Professor of History, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Committee Members: Dr. David Dorondo, History, Dr. Alexander Macaulay, History. April, 2018 TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Abbreviations . iii Abstract . iv Introduction . 1 Chapter One: Perceptions of the Iraq War: Early Origins of the Surge . 17 Chapter Two: Winning the Iraq Home Front: The Political Strategy of the Surge. 38 Chapter Three: A Change in Approach: The Military Strategy of the Surge . 62 Conclusion . 82 Bibliography . 94 ii ABBREVIATIONS ACU - Army Combat Uniform ALICE - All-purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment BDU - Battle Dress Uniform BFV - Bradley Fighting Vehicle CENTCOM - Central Command COIN - Counterinsurgency COP - Combat Outpost CPA – Coalition Provisional Authority CROWS- Common Remote Operated Weapon System CRS- Congressional Research Service DBDU - Desert Battle Dress Uniform HMMWV - High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle ICAF - Industrial College of the Armed Forces IED - Improvised Explosive Device ISG - Iraq Study Group JSS - Joint Security Station MNC-I - Multi-National-Corps-Iraq MNF- I - Multi-National Force – Iraq Commander MOLLE - Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment MRAP - Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (vehicle) QRF - Quick Reaction Forces RPG - Rocket Propelled Grenade SOI - Sons of Iraq UNICEF - United Nations International Children’s Fund VBIED - Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device iii ABSTRACT A NEW WAY FORWARD OR THE OLD WAY BACK? COUNTERINSURGENCY IN THE IRAQ SURGE.
    [Show full text]
  • Snowflakes from the Secretary
    Gord_0375422625_3p_all_r4.qxp 2/2/06 1:25 PM Page 3 chapter 1 Snowflakes from the Secretary In late 2001, Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld summoned the senior military leadership to his office on the E-ring of the Pentagon. It had been an extraordinarily eventful period for the administration of George W. Bush. Kabul had recently fallen. U.S. commandos and Pashtun commanders in southern Afghanistan were on the hunt for Osama bin Laden. In Bonn, Germany, the United States and diplomats from allied nations were prepared to anoint a new group of Afghan leaders. During his short tenure at the Pentagon, Rumsfeld had established himself as an indomitable bureaucratic presence. It was a commonplace among the Bush team that the military needed stronger civilian oversight, and Rumsfeld exercised control with the iron determination of a former corporate executive. He had a restless mind and was given to boast that he was genetically impatient. When he arrived at the Pentagon, Rumsfeld made clear that his goal was nothing less than to remake the U.S. military to fashion a leaner and more lethal force. Notepads were strewn throughout his outsized office. When the defense secretary had an idea he scribbled it down. Four-star generals and high-ranking aides were accustomed to receiving snow- flakes: terse memos that captured his latest brainstorm or query and that landed with a thud. Rusmsfeld had been receiving his daily CIA briefing shortly before the American Airlines plane plowed into the building on September 11. After- ward, he had staked out a clear position on how the Bush team should re- spond.
    [Show full text]
  • Military Neoliberalism: Endless War and Humanitarian Crisis in the Twenty-First Century Michael Schwartz Stony Brook State University
    Societies Without Borders Volume 6 | Issue 3 Article 3 2011 Military Neoliberalism: Endless War and Humanitarian Crisis in the Twenty-First Century Michael Schwartz Stony Brook State University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarlycommons.law.case.edu/swb Part of the Human Rights Law Commons, and the Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons Recommended Citation Schwartz, Michael. 2011. "Military Neoliberalism: Endless War and Humanitarian Crisis in the Twenty-First Century." Societies Without Borders 6 (3): 190-303. Available at: https://scholarlycommons.law.case.edu/swb/vol6/iss3/3 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Cross Disciplinary Publications at Case Western Reserve University School of Law Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Societies Without Borders by an authorized administrator of Case Western Reserve University School of Law Scholarly Commons. Schwartz: Military Neoliberalism: Endless War and Humanitarian Crisis in th M. Schwartz/Societies Without Borders 6:3 (2011) 190-303 Military Neoliberalism: Endless War and Humanitarian Crisis in the Twenty-First Century Michael Schwartz Stony Brook State University Received January 2011; Accepted August 2011 ______________________________________________________ Abstract This article seeks to understand the dynamics of twenty-first century military intervention by the United States and its allies. Based on an analysis of Bush and Obama administration policy documents, we note that these wars are new departures from previous interventions, calling on the military to undertake post-conflict reconstruction in ways that was previously left to indigenous government or to the civilian aspects of the occupation. This military-primary reconstruction is harnessed to ambitious neoliberal economics aimed at transforming the host country’s political economy.
    [Show full text]
  • Trump Administration Allies Have Burrowed Into 24 Critical Civil Service Positions and 187 Last-Minute Appointments
    Trump Administration Allies Have Burrowed Into 24 Critical Civil Service Positions And 187 Last-Minute Appointments SUMMARY: Following the outgoing administration’s “quiet push to salt federal agencies with Trump loyalists,” an Accountable.US review has found that, as of February 22, 2021, at least 24 Trump administration political appointees have “burrowed” into long-term civil service jobs in the new Biden administration. This includes at least four figures in the national security apparatus, nine figures with environmental regulators, three figures in the Department of Justice, two figures in the embattled Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and at least six other appointees elsewhere who have refused to step down in the transition. Burrowing of this sort is not treated lightly, as officials who transfer from political appointments to career positions must undergo scrutiny by federal personnel overseers for a full five years—and some of these cases have been found to violate federal laws and have drawn congressional scrutiny. However, there is a much wider slate of concerning Trump administration appointments that are not subject to such strict oversight: During the Trump administration’s waning days following the 2020 election, it announced 187 last-minute appointments to various boards, commissions, and councils that don’t require Senate confirmation. While some of these appointments have already drawn alarm for going to campaign staffers, megadonors, and top administration allies, Accountable.US has unearthed even more troubling names in Trump’s outgoing deluge. Similar to how early Trump administration personnel picks were directly conflicted against the offices they served, many of these late Trump appointments are woefully underqualified or have histories directly at odds with the positions to which they were named—and they are likely to stay in long into the Biden administration.
    [Show full text]
  • Making Sense of Russian Hybrid Warfare: a Brief Assessment of the Russo–Ukrainian War
    No. 112 MARCH 2017 Making Sense of Russian Hybrid Warfare: A Brief Assessment of the Russo–Ukrainian War Amos C. Fox Andrew J. Rossow Making Sense of Russian Hybrid Warfare: A Brief Assessment of the Russo–Ukrainian War by Amos C. Fox Andrew J. Rossow The Institute of Land Warfare ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY AN INSTITUTE OF LAND WARFARE PAPER The purpose of the Institute of Land Warfare is to extend the educational work of AUSA by sponsoring scholarly publications, to include books, monographs and essays on key defense issues, as well as workshops and symposia. A work selected for publication as a Land Warfare Paper represents research by the author which, in the opinion of ILW’s editorial board, will contribute to a better understanding of a particular defense or national security issue. Publication as an Institute of Land Warfare Paper does not indicate that the Association of the United States Army agrees with everything in the paper but does suggest that the Association believes the paper will stimulate the thinking of AUSA members and others concerned about important defense issues. LAND WARFARE PAPER No. 112, March 2017 Making Sense of Russian Hybrid Warfare: A Brief Assessment of the Russo–Ukrainian War by Amos C. Fox and Andrew J. Rossow Major Amos C. Fox is currently a student at the Army’s School of Advanced Military Studies, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. His previous assignments included troop commands and staff positions in the 4th Infantry Division, the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment and the U.S. Army Armor School. Major Andrew J.
    [Show full text]
  • Strategic Resistance to Military Innovation Andrew Hill
    Naval War College Review Volume 69 Article 7 Number 1 Winter 2016 Systems of Denial: Strategic Resistance to Military Innovation Andrew Hill Stephen Gerras Follow this and additional works at: https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/nwc-review Recommended Citation Hill, Andrew and Gerras, Stephen (2016) "Systems of Denial: Strategic Resistance to Military Innovation," Naval War College Review: Vol. 69 : No. 1 , Article 7. Available at: https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/nwc-review/vol69/iss1/7 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at U.S. Naval War College Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Naval War College Review by an authorized editor of U.S. Naval War College Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Hill and Gerras: Systems of Denial: Strategic Resistance to Military Innovation SYSTEMS OF DENIAL Strategic Resistance to Military Innovation Andrew Hill and Stephen Gerras uccessful organizations can be extraordinarily persistent and creative in denying the obvious, ignoring signals that suggest a need to challenge key Sstrategic assumptions� The U�S� military has been the world’s unrivaled force for twenty-five years, even lacking a peer competitor in some domains—naval op- erations, for example—since 1943� A danger of such sustained success is that the military might come to view these strategic assumptions not as ideas requiring continual reassessment but as enduring laws� The current and future strategic environments demand that the military innovate and question its strategic as- sumptions, not because we know that they are wrong, but because every theory of competition eventually succumbs to new facts�1 The military should be extremely sensitive to the risks of believing things that are Andrew Hill is the Professor of Organization Stud- no longer (or may never have been) true; yet it is ies in the Department of Command, Leadership, particularly vulnerable to persistent denial, and and Management at the U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Iran Has Stopped Implementing Parts of JCPOA
    WWW.TEHRANTIMES.COM I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 16 Pages Price 40,000 Rials 1.00 EURO 4.00 AED 39th year No.13390 Thursday MAY 16, 2019 Ordibehesht 26, 1398 Ramadan 10, 1440 Neither a war Rouhani says Iranians Zarif says Iran most Marc Wilmots will happen; nor will can pass problems sustainable, secure named Iran we negotiate 2 through unity 2 partner in region 2 football coach 15 ‘No new limitation in Iran-Iraq trade ties’ Iran has stopped TEHRAN — There is no new limita- bilateral economic relation, the offi- tion in trade relations between Iran cial website of Iran’s Trade Promotion and Iraq and the two neighbors are Organization (TPO) quoted Behzad strongly determined to strengthen as saying. and develop their trade cooperation, The Iranian commercial attaché further Iranian Commercial Attaché to Iraq said that Iran’s monthly exports to Iraq implementing Naser Behzad stressed. is expected to be doubled in the current In this due, the two countries are Iranian calendar month (ends on May 16) following up plans for increasing their from its previous month. 4 parts of JCPOA Israel rushed to seek truce as Gaza See page 2 upped rocket range: Haniyeh TEHRAN — A senior leader of the Pales- Haniyeh, the head of Hamas’ political tinian resistance movement, Hamas, says bureau, said. Israel scrambled to seek a ceasefire in its Meanwhile, Palestinians are com- recent military aggression against Gaza. memorating the 71st anniversary of the “After the range of the rockets fired Nakba Day (the Day of Catastrophe) in the from Gaza towards the Israeli-occupied occupied West Bank and the blockaded territories, the regime sent representa- Gaza Strip with mass protests against tives for talks with senior members of Israel and the U.S., the regime’s staunch the Palestinian resistance front,” Ismail supporter.
    [Show full text]
  • Douglas Macgregor Douglas Macgregor Is a Decorated Combat
    Douglas Macgregor Douglas Macgregor is a decorated combat veteran, the author of five books, a PhD and the executive VP of Burke-Macgregor Group LLC, a defense and foreign policy consulting firm in Reston, VA. He was commissioned in the Regular Army in 1976 after 1 year at VMI and 4 years at West Point. Macgregor retired with the rank of Colonel in 2004. He holds an MA in comparative politics and a PhD in international relations from the University of Virginia. Macgregor is widely known inside the U.S., Europe, Israel, China and Korea for both his leadership in the Battle of 73 Easting, the U.S. Army’s largest tank battle since World War II, and for his ground breaking books on military transformation: Breaking the Phalanx (Praeger, 1997) and Transformation under Fire (Praeger, 2003). His book, Warrior’s Rage: The Great Tank Battle of 73 Easting (Naval Institute Press, 2009) describes the 1991 action for which he was awarded a Bronze Star with “V” device for valor. His books have been translated into Hebrew, Chinese, Russian and Korean. His fifth book, Margin of Victory: Five Battles that Changed the Face of Modern War, is currently available from Naval Institute Press. http://www.usni.org/store/books/history/margin-victory In 28 years of service Macgregor taught in the Department of Social Sciences at West Point, commanded the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry, and served as the Director of the Joint Operations Center at SHAPE in 1999 during the Kosovo Air Campaign. He was awarded the Defense Superior Service medal for his role in the Kosovo Air Campaign.
    [Show full text]
  • Progressive Foreign Policy Debrief Intel for Advocacy
    Progressive Foreign Policy Debrief Intel for Advocacy DATE: 6/21/19 SL: A wedge between Bolton and Trump? TRUMP IGNORED HIS WAR CABINET ON IRAN, THIS TIME The Atlantic’s Peter Beinart this week neatly summarized the Trump administration’s ​ ​ self-inflicted crisis with Iran in four sentences: The conventions of mainstream journalism make it difficult to challenge America’s self-conception as a peace-loving nation. But the unlovely truth is this: Throughout its history, America has attacked countries that did not threaten it. To carry out such wars, ​ American leaders have contrived pretexts to justify American aggression.​ That’s what Donald Trump’s administration—and especially its national security adviser, John Bolton—is doing now with Iran. And it appears that there’s a glimmer of hope that Trump himself has begun to realize this. It’s unclear whether his decision to call off his own order to respond militarily against Iran’s decision to shoot down a U.S. drone (itself, a retaliation to the Trump administration’s escalatory and aggressive posture toward Iran) was because Tucker Carlson told him to, or because he realizes starting a war won’t do him any favors politically at home. Regardless, one thing is now clear: a wedge between the president and his top national security aides, Mike Pompeo and John Bolton — both of whom have been clamoring for regime change and war with Iran — has started to emerge. What’s perhaps even more encouraging, is that voices on Trump’s own propaganda network are surfacing to drive that wedge even further (recognizing, of course, that sometimes these ​ ​ anti-war voices on the right aren’t always working for a just and more peaceful world).
    [Show full text]
  • Administration of Donald J. Trump, 2020 Digest of Other White House
    Administration of Donald J. Trump, 2020 Digest of Other White House Announcements December 31, 2020 The following list includes the President's public schedule and other items of general interest announced by the Office of the Press Secretary and not included elsewhere in this Compilation. January 1 In the morning, the President traveled to the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, FL. In the afternoon, the President returned to his private residence at the Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, FL, where he remained overnight. The President announced the designation of the following individuals as members of a Presidential delegation to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, from January 20 through January: Steven T. Mnuchin (head of delegation); Wilbur L. Ross, Jr.; Eugene Scalia; Elaine L. Chao; Robert E. Lighthizer; Keith J. Krach; Ivanka M. Trump; Jared C. Kushner; and Christopher P. Liddell. January 2 In the morning, the President traveled to the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, FL. In the afternoon, the President returned to his private residence at the Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, FL, where he remained overnight. During the day, President had a telephone conversation with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey to discuss bilateral and regional issues, including the situation in Libya and the need for deescalation of the conflict in Idlib, Syria, in order to protect civilians. January 3 In the morning, the President was notified of the successful U.S. strike in Baghdad, Iraq, that killed Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran, commander of the Quds Force.
    [Show full text]
  • Army Transformaation
    ARMY TRANSFORMATION: A VIEW FROM THE U.S. ARMY WAR COLLEGE Edited by Williamson Murray July 2001 ***** The views expressed in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government. This report is cleared for public release; distribution is unlimited. ***** Comments pertaining to this report are invited and should be forwarded to: Director, Strategic Studies Institute, U.S. Army War College, 122 Forbes Ave., Carlisle, PA 17013-5244. Copies of this report may be obtained from the Publications and Production Office by calling commercial (717) 245-4133, FAX (717) 245-3820, or via the Internet at [email protected] ***** Most 1993, 1994, and all later Strategic Studies Institute (SSI) monographs are available on the SSI Homepage for electronic dissemination. SSI’s Homepage address is: http://carlisle-www.army. mil/usassi/welcome.htm ***** The Strategic Studies Institute publishes a monthly e-mail newsletter to update the national security community on the research of our analysts, recent and forthcoming publications, and upcoming conferences sponsored by the Institute. Each newsletter also provides a strategic commentary by one of our research analysts. If you are interested in receiving this newsletter, please let us know by e-mail at [email protected] or by calling (717) 245-3133. ISBN 1-58487-059-1 ii CONTENTS Foreword .......................... iv 1. INTRODUCTION Williamson Murray .................... 1 2. NEW AGE MILITARY PROGRESSIVES: U.S. Army Officer Professionalism in the Information Age David R. Gray .....................
    [Show full text]
  • China Might Take Iran's Side in a War with US
    ISPSW Strategy Series: Focus on Defense and International Security Issue China might take Iran’s side in a war with US No. 665 Dr Christina Lin Jan 2020 China might take Iran’s side in a war with US Dr Christina Lin January 2020 Abstract China’s ties with Iran are crucial to its energy and geopolitical strategies, and with Russia also in the mix, a broader conflagration is a real possibility. The current U.S.-Iran stand-off is not about Iran, but about China— which Washington considers a peer competitor. Because U.S. controls most of oil-rich Persian Gulf via Arab proxies in the “left flank” and can impose a naval embargo on China’s oil supplies in a conflict over Taiwan Straits or South China Sea, Chinese strategists believe if Beijing and Moscow expand relations with Tehran, they can maintain “minimum balance” in the “east bank” to thwart Washington. Against the backdrop of rapidly deteriorating Sino-U.S. ties in a new Cold War, China would likely support Iran in a war with the U.S. About ISPSW The Institute for Strategic, Political, Security and Economic Consultancy (ISPSW) is a private institute for research and consultancy. The ISPSW is an objective, task-oriented and politically non-partisan institute. In the ever more complex international environment of globalized economic processes and worldwide political, ecological, social and cultural change, which occasions both major opportunities and risks, decision- makers in the economic and political arena depend more than ever before on the advice of highly qualified experts. ISPSW offers a range of services, including strategic analyses, security consultancy, executive coaching and intercultural competency.
    [Show full text]