Posted on 08/18/2005 6:06:22 PM PDT by Yasotay
According to the USDOD, war is a clash of wills. The main enemy in the war on terror is the collection of State and nonstate actors that are engaged in terror tactics to thwart efforts to to promote peaceful and free commerce and the efforts to establish the honoring of rights and their protection.
The offensive began when the jihadists that mounted the attack on the US had the lands where they were free to operate and were given govm't support, were taken from them. They were either taken outright, as in Afghanistan and Iraq, or the govm'ts of others were moved to contain the terrorists. The US never let up on the offensive. The main focus of the jihadists is now the US mil in Iraq. The minor focus is the various civilian population centers around the world in desperation to force world opinion against the US. Their efforts there are counter productive.
As far as Iran and their nukes go, that is not part of the war on terror. That is a separate matter. It involves Putin's Russia and takes the form of traditional national conflict. The govm't of Iran itself, as with NK, is posing as a hostile nation.
Most of the principles you mentioned are not principles of war. They are elements of strategy.
One of Corbett's teachings, in contrast to Mahan's doctrine to seek out the enemy for a decisive encounter, was that chasing around the Globe trying to bring your enemy to a decisive battle often results in striking a "blow in the air" or finding the enemy in a place of his own choosing.
Instead, Corbett advised occupying a place of high strategic value and forcing the enemy to come to you.
"It should be borne in mind that if you seek it (the enemy fleet) out with a superior force, you will probably find it in a place where you cannot destroy it, except at very heavy cost. It is far better to make it come to you..."
That strategy is now in effect in Iraq.
Most of the principles you mentioned are not principles of war. They are elements of strategy.
Yes they are .... You can Google "MOUSE MOSS" or "Principles of War" and see for yourself. Strategy is separate and is part of the "Threads of Continuity". The Threads are both Internal and External. The Internal Threads are Military Professionalism, Tactics, Strategy, Logistics and Administration, Military Theory and Doctrine, and Generalship. The External Threads are Political, Social, Economic Factors and Technology ....
Strategy is the planning for, coordinating of, and concerted use of the multiple means and resources available to an alliance, a nation, a political group, or a commander, for the purpose of gaining an advantage over a rival. It is divided into grand, national, military and campaign strategy.
IMHO, the US stopped offensive operations sometime shortly after the fall of Iraq. During our elections the reasons were political. We will just have to disagree on that point.
Since the Iranian President was involved in the 1979 embassy take over and with our old embassy still a HQ for their revolutionaries with a Museum to the Great Satan, It is clear that Iran is a Terrorist State. I believe that since 1979 the heart and most of the brains of terrorism lies in Tehran.
I don't think Nelson would agree with your post .... if I remember correctly he was "blowing in the air" after Napoleon for nine months until the Battle of the Nile ..... I've got to go to bed .... to be continue....besides doesn't Rumsfeld still think there is no insurgency? Stumbling into that strategy by accident is not strategy....
The MSM doesn't care and won't risk life or limb to cover and report the GOOD when all they have to do is sit in the luxury of a hotel and wait for a roadside bomb and the latest casualty count of the day........and report that!
Yep, as sad as it is to say. Our Government does a better job of reporting what is going on then the "journalists" are doing.
Remember, that post was Corbett's dictum. I can't take credit for it.
Corbett would point out that Nelson was "blowing in the air" until the French fleet stopped at the strategic point of Aboukir Bay. The French made Nelson come to them at a prepared position. Be that as it may, and although the French out-gunned the British, Nelson's superior tactics prevailed.
Corbett cited a previous Mediterranean chase:
"....in 1704, Admiral Sir George Rooke was unable to seek out the Toulun fleet but, by seizing Gibraltar, he made it come to him".
Corbett did step on quite a few Royal Navy toes by daring to criticize Nelson, the Royal Navy's minor deity.
Corbett believed that Nelson's statement that he would be willing to see his fleet destroyed if he could cripple the French fleet in the process was highly irresponsible.
Corbett pointed out that, while a Continental land power had a fleet as a luxury and could take extreme risks with it as it was not vital to survival, a maritime nation such as Britain that depended on its fleet for its very survival could not afford to risk the destruction of that fleet in a cavalier fashion.
Corbett was a member of Fisher's "Fish Pond".
Corbett also stepped on more Royal Navy toes when he was thought to be too sympathetic to Admiral John Jellicoe's performance when he wrote the official history of the Battle of Jutland.
Corbett's point was that, although Jutland did not result in a destruction of the German fleet, it was still a solid strategic victory as the German High Seas Fleet never ventured from port again. A more aggressive action may have jeopardized the survival of the British Grand Fleet without any further strategic benefit than what Jellicoe achieved.
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