Naval War College Review Volume 70 Article 22 Number 3 Summer

2017 The aW rrior, Military Ethics and ContemporaryWarfare: Achilles Goes Asymmetrical, by PaulineM. Kaurin Thomas E. Creely

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Recommended Citation Creely, Thomas E. (2017) "The aW rrior, Military Ethics and ContemporaryWarfare: Achilles Goes Asymmetrical, by PaulineM. Kaurin," Naval War College Review: Vol. 70 : No. 3 , Article 22. Available at: https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/nwc-review/vol70/iss3/22

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mission in a particular theater at a given showcases the importance of the attaché time, while at the same time allowing a in linking naval and diplomatic efforts, useful extension into the broader topic as well as the enormous value of offering of naval diplomacy throughout the educational experiences and exchanges Americas as a backdrop. The work be- to foreign officers, thereby sowing the gins with a survey of the extant scholar- seed corn for future cooperation. ship on showing the flag—a term that the Interestingly, it also demonstrates that author explains is really too broad to be even in the absence of such schemes, useful—before moving chronologically the Royal Navy leadership could and through the decades of the last century. did lead the impetus for change, with By and large the chapters flow logically surprising success—as evidenced by the into one another, although the compara- impact of the 1970s “Group Operating” tive chapter on U.S. postwar defense concept, which enhanced the prestige plans (chapter 6) seems something of an value of the navy’s visits ashore while at outlier, particularly in view of the title. the same time sustaining its skills and The research is excellent and uses a wide capabilities at sea. The navy benefited in variety of contemporary official sources that its “blue-water” skills were pre- and established scholarly works. The served far longer than would have author is an academic researcher and been possible otherwise, and defense does not appear to have had any naval sales benefited from the showcasing experience, although he has done his of those skills. It truly was a “win-win” homework in gathering the appropriate development. In conclusion, this is a naval opinions. The work forms a worthwhile read for anyone interested concise and usable package. (However, in the broad topic of naval diplomacy from a publishing point of view, the overseas or defense sales in particular. physical ink used in the printing leaves a lot to be desired. In the reviewer’s ANGUS ROSS copy, even the action of fingering a page lifted the print right off the paper!) The book’s overall message is that, while the Royal Navy was suffering through a The Warrior, Military Ethics and Contemporary stretch of undeniable decline throughout Warfare: Achilles Goes Asymmetrical, by Pauline the period, even in its heyday the M. Kaurin. Surrey, U.K.: Ashgate, 2014. 154 pages. service never really enjoyed a position $149.95. of complete, influential dominance Pauline Kaurin is associate professor on the South American continent. of philosophy at Pacific Lutheran Furthermore, by being proactive and University, specializing in the just war focusing its efforts on areas where tradition and military ethics. For this success was more likely, it managed to volume, Kaurin developed her research maintain a surprising level of influence during time at the U.S. Naval Academy for far longer than one might have and U.S. Military Academy and in imagined in what was, after all, very dialogue with academic colleagues in much a secondary theater for the the International Society for Military United Kingdom. To this end, the book Ethics. This volume examines the ethical

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complexities facing the modern warrior faced in AW? Kaurin’s premise is that engaged in asymmetrical warfare (AW). moral education must address AW In the introduction, Kaurin begins within the scope of jus in bello. with a thorough discussion of the term The focus on AW stems from two warrior, giving it a meaning distinct points. The first is a mind-set fixed from soldier, sailor, airman, or any other on a conventional-war theory that military operator. To give meaning to understands asymmetrical conflict as the warrior concept, Kaurin reaches part of conventional warfare. A second back to ancient Greek mythology: she point is that AW requires new challenges finds Achilles, of Homer’s Iliad, to be to ethical thinking that are counter the “touchstone” for the ethical warrior. to that associated with conventional Kaurin does not see Achilles as the per- war. When will serious ethical thought fect example of a warrior; instead, Achil- be given to the changing nature of les exemplifies the military professional’s war, which confronts the norms of existential essence in war and personifies traditional war between nations? warrior virtues, resilience, and prowess. Kaurin’s thoughts and observations Even though Achilles fought his wars go beyond AW. She identifies the in antiquity, Kaurin sees Achilles as deeper nuances of moral asymmetry, relevant to the AW of the current era. as defined by Michael Gross and Rob Examined through the lens of jus in Thorton. The adversary’s failure to bello, how do we fight like Achilles and practice reciprocity undermines the how do we fight against Achilles? The moral norms, strategy, and tactics of volume addresses the moral education the generally stronger opponent. With of the warrior to engage and interpret disproportional impact, the effect better the unconventional conflicts represents a symbolic and ideological that present ethical challenges, as stance against the stronger opponent. well as ethical impediments that are Of the ethical questions Kaurin contrary to jus in bello. How do we poses throughout the book, some are equip the warrior to engage ethi- being contemplated already, while cally complex weapons technology and others are harder to engage because changing asymmetrical conflict? the moral scope involved cannot be Kaurin argues for a systematic examina- brought into focus yet. She contends tion of the ethical challenges posed by that understanding the full scope of the autonomous weapons and AW. What are ethical issues requires getting into the the ethics of the strategies and tactics hearts and minds of the adversary; yet of each of the two sides in AW? One often it is the adversary who artfully side may use torture against captives, gets into the hearts and minds, and whether combatants or noncombatants, the social fabric, of the opponent. while the other side chooses not to Kaurin contends that if warriors are to reciprocate owing to countervailing engage in asymmetrical moral conflict, moral norms, contrary public opinion, they must have courage. Yet the techno- and lack of political will. How does logical development of weapons means the warrior question, think, and that the physical distance between respond to such moral dichotomies

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opponents is growing, so it takes less moral thinking for military leaders. She courage to go to war. Achilles had the does not shy away from the conundrums courage to fight face-to-face, taking the warrior faces. To maintain an risks and facing danger directly. ethical edge in asymmetrical warfare, For many, distancing oneself from military ethics must be embedded into danger—even the risk of danger—by the culture of the profession of arms. using technology imposes a fundamental THOMAS E. CREELY weakness on the modern warrior amid the challenges he faces. Kaurin presents a detailed analysis of courage in an asymmetrical context, with a prescrip- tion for developing courageous warriors. The General vs. the President: MacArthur and Tru- Another moral attribute that Kaurin man at the Brink of Nuclear War, by H. W. Brands. sees as essential to the warrior ethos is New York: Doubleday, 2016. 448 pages. $30. loyalty. This loyalty is built on leader- The relief of General of the Army ship and trust and is a foundation of Douglas MacArthur by President Harry the profession of arms. Referencing S. Truman remains one of the most the Illiad, she compares the loyalty of controversial and debated wartime Achilles, the traditional warrior, with command decisions made in the that of Hector, the contemporary, military history of the United States. professional warrior. A strategy for By April 1951, Douglas MacArthur was training warriors for loyalty is laid at the peak of his game as a military out. In addition to excellent military leader. His public pressing to widen the ethics literature references, Kaurin uses war in Korea, in direct contradiction film to illustrate key ethical points. to the intent of his president, and his The combatant/noncombatant public statements to that end that led distinction must be made clear for the to his dismissal still fuel debate today. soldier considering jus in bello. Kaurin H. W. Brands gives depth to the tale of proposes a five-level gradation of power MacArthur versus Truman by includ- and threat, from highest to lowest: ing the complexities that existed in • uniformed combat personnel the Korean conflict and its Cold War • unconventional belligerents context, when a U.S.-led “free world” • those provisionally hostile was engaged in a global struggle against Soviet-led Communism (and especially • neutral or nonhostile noncombatants Soviet interest in Central Europe). As • vulnerable noncombatants the fighting in Korea continued, official Discerning the appropriate category Washington, and the Pentagon in of combatant/noncombatant would particular, worried that the war effort determine the appropriate level of force. was tying down more and more U.S. Such a moral model of ascertaining military resources—worries that the threat level would equip the soldier fueled further concerns that Moscow better in the ethics of jus in bello. might see the United States stretched Kaurin’s thoughts are a contribution militarily and unable to defend to the literature on the higher level of Central Europe adequately.

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