Irregular Warfare: The Future Military Strategy for Small States From Vincent A. Dueñas, Small Wars Journal: “The military strategy for the defense of the homeland that a sovereign nation chooses to employ for its armed forces is one of the most important choices it makes. That decision holds implications for that nation’s budget, natural resources, and human capital and reflects parts of its national identity.” Everything You Think You Know About Limited War Is Wrong
From Donald Stoker, War on the Rocks: "One of the critical problems with much of the writing on strategic subjects is a failure to define the terms being used in a clear and universally applicable manner. When we fail to explain what we mean when we use terms such as “limited war” or “total war,” we build in a potentially fatal underpinning for the formulation of policy and strategy. This error also robs the discussion of any firm ground for critical analysis. Moreover, if we don’t understand what we mean by “limited war,” we don’t understand what we mean when we describe any war. Shoddy thinking lays a foundation for defeat." The Return of Hard Power
From John F. Hillen, War on the Rocks: “Part of me would like to think that Eliot Cohen’s new book, The Big Stick, is just not necessary. This is the part of me that knows that half or more of the bestselling history books are political or military history, that the news is saturated with coverage of today’s exercises in so-called hard power (the threat or use of coercive force) by states and non-state actors, and that video games, movies, and television shows depict the timelessness of hard power incessantly. I think: Surely people….um, get it?” The Good Fight: Making the Case for Intellectual Combat in the Military From Andy Dziengeleski & John McRae, Modern War Institute: “One of the requirements of any profession is a capacity for growth, introspection, and reflection. In the military profession, this happens in several ways. At a personal level, members pursue intellectual development through self-study and periodic civilian and military schooling. At the unit level, leaders engage and are engaged by seniors in mentorship activities designed to cultivate knowledge and critical thinking skills.” How Cicero Molds a Virtuous Leader out of Plato From Todd Hertling, Strategy Bridge: “If the military is to maintain its role as a trustworthy profession serving society, it does have to be exceptional.[6] Indeed, it should strive for moral excellence. But to address the ethics challenge, the military should move beyond the typical bureaucratic response. There can be no magic formula beyond self-improvement, education, and a commitment to duty as a guide. There are proposed training programs that may or may not be effective; however, it need not be more complicated than revisiting ancient thought. The overlap that exists between modern military values and the cardinal moral virtues of antiquity is powerful. Plato and Cicero, two of the greatest classical thinkers, offer prescient thoughts for preserving moral excellence.” Reading, Thinking, and Writing on History, Strategy, Military, & Philosophy in 2016
From Strategy Bridge: “Francis Bacon—the English author, lawyer, philosopher, scientist, and statesman—wrote in his essay Of Studies, "Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man." Reading was the beginning of study for Bacon, and the reading he advised in the pursuit of knowledge ranged widely: histories for wisdom, poetry for wit, mathematics for subtlety, natural philosophy for depth, morality for gravity, and logic and rhetoric for persuasion. But we must also think, discuss, and write about those things we learn through reading.” WHY REX tillerson IS GREAT SECRETARY OF STATE PICK (hint Reform State Dept, & Arab Liberalization)12/14/2016 Deputy Secretary of State Anthony Blinken writes: America’s greatest contribution to peace and progress has been laying the foundation for an open, rules-based, connected world. Now we have to decide whether to continue to defend, amend and build upon that foundation or become complicit in dismantling it. – New York Times
Richard Haass writes: What is certain, however, is that it is essential for a century in which globalization will be a reality, welcome or not. Building a world order predicated on sovereign obligation is certainly ambitious, but it is an ambition born out of realism, not idealism. – Foreign Affairs Joseph Nye writes: Leadership is not the same as domination, and Washington’s role in helping stabilize the world and underwrite its continued progress may be even more important now than ever. Americans and others may not notice the security and prosperity that the liberal order provides until they are gone—but by then, it may be too late. – Foreign Affairs Hal Brands and Peter Feaver write: Polls taken in 2015 and 2016 show that public support for American internationalism remains (superficially, at least) fairly strong. And it may be that the political system will, over the long run, continue to produce leaders and policies that sustain U.S. leadership. But given recent trends, it is hard not to worry that this most fundamental assumption of U.S. grand strategy — that the country can bring effectively cope with its problems — may be becoming shakier as well. Were this assumption to be further undermined, it would significantly compound the effects of all the other global changes discussed here — and augur a bleak future for U.S. policy and the post-Cold War order it supports. – War on the Rocks EconoLog: How Presidents lead nation states into war
Service Chiefs, Development of Strategic Leaders & UNDERSTANDING CONTEMPORARY INTERNATIONAL ORDER12/8/2016 From Frank Hoffman, War on the Rocks: “Thucydides called war a “savage schoolmaster,” and he offered his carefully crafted history to reduce the blood bill of learning. He quite effectively addresses the role of strategic assessment, the importance of domestic politics in conflict, the complexities of alliances and diplomacy, and the interplay of land and sea warfare. For this reason, Thucydides sits on a pedestal among historians, and his work is considered required reading for serious students of strategy and military history. There is much to learn from him, and it is not surprising that major educational programs, especially the U.S. Naval War College where I once studied, start their strategy programs with a week devoted to this once discredited admiral from Athens.”
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CategoriesArchives
February 2024
EXAMPLE OF SUCCESS IN U.S. FOREIGN POLICY ACE VENTURA
PAUL RAHE: REALISM IN FOREIGN AFFAIRS, SPARTA
CONSCIENCE & TEMPORAL AUTHORITY
SHAKESPEARE
POSITIVE LAW vs. CONSCIENCE
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