This paper proposes a working theory of operational art as practiced in counterinsurgency war (i.e., modern war). The underlying hypothesis of the paper is that operational art in modern war uses different logic than that used in conventional war....
In 1926, Dwight D. Eisenhower was first in his class and an honor graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth. Eisenhower's year at the school was a formative period in his career and prepared him for many of his...
In 1926, Dwight D. Eisenhower was first in his class and an honor graduate of the U. S. Army Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth. Eisenhower's year at the school was a formative period in his career and prepared him for many of his...
History illustrates that genocide is a reoccurring phenomenon. A variety of indicators suggest that the potential for the US to deploy military forces to prevent or stop genocide or mass atrocity is increasing. Continued involvement in limited...
The Combat Studies Institute developed this bibliography of historical films, videotapes, motion pictures, and related audiovisual aids to support the TRADOC Military History Education Program, Instructors at the ROTC and branch service schools...
This thesis investigates the question: Should inertially guided air-to-ground weapons be used to perform Close Air Support (CAS)? With inertially guided weapons it is possible to strike targets with precision, even when crewmen in attack aircraft...
This monograph questions the utility of military deception (MILDEC) given its decidedly different dynamics inside counterinsurgency (COIN) operations. It examines relevant theoretical touchstones and doctrinal frameworks to determine whether the...
The United States and Iran have been in conflict since the Iranian Revolution. Iran is seeking to increase its power in the Middle East while America is seeking to maintain its own power in the region while simultaneously containing Iran’s...
Recent conflicts, such as Operation Iraqi Freedom, have challenged operational commanders to develop skills to manage indigenous population issues. These skills were developed out of necessity after the conflict is over. Dealing with the...
This study explores the impacts on US Army operations should the United States decide to abide by the “Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Antipersonnel Mines and on their Destruction.” This treaty...
The topic of this thesis is Military Operations on Urbanized Terrain (MOUT). Specifically, certain essential skills for the dismounted infantry soldier are lacking in today's training, doctrine, and skills. This is a study of MOUT training in the...
This thesis builds on research into the second and third order effects of unmanned warfare on the modern battlefield and provides a single source document outlining the major effects seen throughout the Afghan operational environment between 2001...
The U.S. is struggling with its role as the world's only superpower. If the U.S. is to accept new commitments, it must reassess old ones. The Sinai Desert has been peaceful for twenty-five years. The U.S. commitment of forces to the Multinational...
From our inception, our Army Non-Commissioned Officer Corps has grown in credibility, capability, and technical and tactical proficiency in pace with our Nation. Starting from small groups of Corporals and Sergeants that were little more than...
Mistreatment of civilians not party to a large-scale, violent conflict is not new. The perceived lack of empathy for civilians (historically and presently) points to ambiguities about who the enemy is, rules of engagement, as well as the ongoing...
In the age of instant communications tactical decisions must be justifiable operationally and ethically. American forces must fight well in the technical and tactical sense as well as in accord with the laws of land warfare. Decisions taken in the...
How well does U.S. counterinsurgency doctrine tactically neutralize insurgent infrastructures? This question is important given the high interest of the United States in maintaining stable democracies around the world. Insurgency continues to...
While the outcome of the Iraq war seems to have validated the U.S. Army's counterinsurgency manual, FM 3-24, the war in Afghanistan seems to indicate there are fundamental problems associated with its historical principles and concepts. Dr....
Chemical weapons were introduced in World War I by the Germans in 1916, during the battle of Ypres. The military's appreciation for the effectiveness of this weapon of mass destruction has continually conflicted with society's horror of its cruel...
The metamorphosis of the United States Army’s tactical Military Intelligence (MI) organization and doctrine since 1976 has been remarkable. Transitioning from a conglomerate of capabilities borrowed from disparate organizations, MI units became...