Asymmetry and U.S. Military Strategy: Definition, Background, and Strategic Concepts
Title | Asymmetry and U.S. Military Strategy: Definition, Background, and Strategic Concepts PDF eBook |
Author | |
Publisher | DIANE Publishing |
Pages | 30 |
Release | |
Genre | |
ISBN | 1428911189 |
Asymmetry and U. S. Military Strategy
Title | Asymmetry and U. S. Military Strategy PDF eBook |
Author | Steven Metz |
Publisher | |
Pages | 30 |
Release | 2001-01-31 |
Genre | |
ISBN | 9781463545079 |
Following the May 2000 Army-Marine Warfighter Talks, the Army resolved to develop an Army-Marine Corps view of a strategy for combating asymmetric threats. The U.S. Army Strategic Studies Institute, in turn, set about defining asymmetry within the context of military doctrine, assessing the implications of asymmetric military capabilities, and suggesting strategic concepts for countering asymmetric threats. This special report is the result of that tasking. In it, Dr. Steven Metz and Dr. Douglas Johnson recommend a definition of strategic asymmetry that is both simple and comprehensive, reflecting the need for military doctrine that transcends the specific issues of today. They then assess the strategic situation of the United States in terms of both positive asymmetry-that which gives U.S. forces an advantage over opponents-and negative asymmetry that might be used to counter U.S. forces. Finally, they offer five strategic concepts as part of the response to asymmetry: maximum conceptual and organizational adaptability, focused intelligence, minimal vulnerability, full spectrum precision, and an integrated homeland security strategy.
Asymmetry and U.S. Military Strategy
Title | Asymmetry and U.S. Military Strategy PDF eBook |
Author | Steven Metz |
Publisher | Strategic Studies Institute U. S. Army War College |
Pages | 36 |
Release | 2001 |
Genre | Political Science |
ISBN |
This report gives a simple and comprehensive definition of strategic asymmetry reflecting the need for military doctrine which transcends today's specific issues. The authors assess the strategic situation of the United States in terms of positive and negative asymmetry and offer five strategic concepts as part of the response to asymmetry: maximum conceptual and organizational adaptability, focused intelligence, minimal vulnerability, full spectrum precision, and an integrated homeland security strategy.
ASYMMETRY AND U.S. MILITARY STRATEGY: DEFINITION, BACKGROUND, AND STRATEGIC CONCEPTS.
Title | ASYMMETRY AND U.S. MILITARY STRATEGY: DEFINITION, BACKGROUND, AND STRATEGIC CONCEPTS. PDF eBook |
Author | Steven Metz |
Publisher | |
Pages | 0 |
Release | 2022 |
Genre | |
ISBN |
Asymmetry and U.S. Military Strategy
Title | Asymmetry and U.S. Military Strategy PDF eBook |
Author | Steven Metz |
Publisher | |
Pages | 32 |
Release | 2014-07-22 |
Genre | Education |
ISBN | 9781312376250 |
In war, there are always differences between the opponents. At times these are insignificant, passing disparities with no bearing on the outcome. At other times, the differences between opponents are important, placing one in a position of advantage, the other at a disadvantage. This is a very simple observation, but from it flows one of the pressing issues faced by the United States today: strategic asymmetry. Strategic asymmetry is the use of some sort of difference to gain an advantage over an adversary. It is an idea as old as warfare itself, appearing under a number of guises. Among strategic theorists, Sun Tzu placed great stock in psychological and informational asymmetry, writing that: All warfare is based on deception. When confronted with an enemy one should offer the enemy a bait to lure him; feign disorder and strike him. When he concentrates, prepare against him; where he is strong. avoid him.
Challenging the United States Symmetrically and Asymmetrically
Title | Challenging the United States Symmetrically and Asymmetrically PDF eBook |
Author | Lloyd J. Matthews |
Publisher | |
Pages | 362 |
Release | 1998 |
Genre | Political Science |
ISBN |
The concept of asymmetrical warfare is a popular and much discussed issue in U.S. defense literature these days. Joint Vision 2010 (JV 2010),2 the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR),3 and the National Military Strategy (NMS)4 are just a few of the documents that express concern about it. Understandably, the Secretary of Defense has made addressing the phenomenon a central theme of his administration. All of that said, what exactly is meant by asymmetrical warfare? In broad terms it simply means warfare that seeks to avoid an opponent's strengths; it is an approach that tries to focus whatever may be one side's comparative advantages against its enemy's relative weaknesses.5 In a way, seeking asymmetries is fundamental to all warfighting. But in the modern context, asymmetrical warfare emphasizes what are popularly perceived as unconventional or nontraditional methodologies. For most potential adversaries, attacking the United States asymmetrically is the only warfighting strategy they might reasonably consider for the foreseeable future. The Gulf War was an object lesson to military planners around the globe of the futility of attempting to confront the United States symmetrically, that is, with like forces and orthodox tactics. In this essay I briefly examine how the West's cultural disposition and mindset affect its concept of asymmetrical warfare. I contend that the West's current focus may leave it vulnerable to asymmetrical challenges that arise from opponents whose cultural perspective differs significantly from that of the West.
Asymmetric Warfare
Title | Asymmetric Warfare PDF eBook |
Author | Rod Thornton |
Publisher | Polity |
Pages | 253 |
Release | 2007-02-12 |
Genre | Political Science |
ISBN | 0745633641 |
In recent years, the nature of conflict has changed. Through asymmetric warfare radical groups and weak state actors are using unexpected means to deal stunning blows to more powerful opponents in the West. From terrorism to information warfare, the Wests air power, sea power and land power are open to attack from clever, but much weaker, enemies. In this clear and engaging introduction, Rod Thornton unpacks the meaning and significance of asymmetric warfare, in both civilian and military realms, and examines why it has become such an important subject for study. He seeks to provide answers to key questions, such as how weaker opponents apply asymmetric techniques against the Western world, and shows how the Wests military superiority can be seriously undermined by asymmetric threats. The book concludes by looking at the ways in which the US, the state most vulnerable to asymmetric attack, is attempting to cope with some new battlefield realities. This is an indispensable guide to one of the key topics in security studies today.