Posted on 12/07/2002 1:01:26 PM PST by freeforall
DEFENSE: Pearl Harbor's Tech Legacy
By E.G. Ross, Editor
The soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war. —Gen. Douglas MacArthur
TODAY, exactly sixty-one years ago, in a surprise attack, Japanese warplanes slammed into the U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The raiders killed and maimed over two-thousand people and destroyed millions of dollars worth of defense technology. The shocking attack conclusively drew America into the war against the Japanese Empire. The event ultimately led to the U.S. development of nuclear weapons. It also resulted in the total defeat of Japan and its reconstruction as a peaceful, capitalist republic, which today is among our staunchest allies and a major trading partner. And, at least as important, the attack led to the rise of the U.S. as the indisputable world leader, militarily, politically, economically, and technologically. The obvious lesson of Pearl Harbor—the one most of us recall—is that nasty surprises can happen; hence it is wise to be wary and prepared. But there were other, more subtle lessons. The most striking among them was how critical it is to exploit cutting edge technology for defense. This is a lesson the U.S. learned well. It continues to benefit us today, in our unique kind of warfare.
For our younger, history-bereft readers, a little lesson. Back in 1941, the Japanese fleet of carriers and their "zero" fighter wings constituted a formidable combination. Carrier groups had never been used in war to deliver such a powerful blow to an enemy's shores. Part of the reason for the Americans' surprise was their failure to anticipate the use of this relatively cutting-edge technology. The Japanese carrier attack did for sea warfare what the German Blitzkrieg tank tactics did for land warfare. It fully awakened the world to new strategic possibilities. Yes, the value was known in principle. The U.S. itself already had carriers. But the Japanese attack brought its potential into the world of application. What a nation understands and what it achieves are two vastly different items—proving again that while principles are necessary, they are never sufficient. In lay terms, knowing is not the same as doing. Although this lesson had somewhat softened over the years—until the 9/11 Massacre—it remains strong. America learned many good things from its grievous complacency at Pearl Harbor. Ever since, more than any of its allies or enemies, the U.S. has pioneered one advanced form of defense after another. It has gradually incorporated them into its preparedness. As a result, American strategy has always been in a dynamic flux. Desert Storm was a far different kind of war than Vietnam or World War II. The current anti-terrorism war is different again. And the next war will have yet another face.
Forced Evolution When I talk about our warfare evolution, what sort of thing do I mean? Well, for instance, the U.S. Army is now phasing out its huge main battle tanks, the M1 family (M1A1, M1A2, etc.). Over the next 20 or 30 years—and yes, the Pentagon tries to plan that far ahead—tanks probably will be replaced by an entire family of smaller, more mobile, but equally deadly multi-wheeled vehicles. These machines—using entirely new, computer-driven terrain-sensing technology—in combination with fresh generations of other weapons, such as battlefield helicopters and armed ground robots—will make the U.S. Army faster on the scene, more flexible, and, all told, much more powerful.
In air warfare, the U.S. is gradually moving toward pilotless fighters and bombers, also called UCAVs (unmanned combat air vehicles). Over the next two or three decades, robots gradually will take pilots completely out of the battle. Using something called telepresence, men will fly these craft from hundreds, even thousands of miles away, sitting safely behind video screens in bunkers. We actually began using these—modified Predator drones equipped with Hellfire missiles—in the current anti-terrorism campaign some months ago; we are in the combat robot era. Some of the craft, will be full-bore, autonomous vehicles and will fly their own missions. New generations of smart missiles and spy planes will also enter the equation. The same or related robots are providing essential surveillance for a variety of other goals and needs.
In ocean warfare, giant mobile bases, a mile or more long, one day will enhance the survivability and flexibility of the U.S. sea fleets. New kinds of underwater missiles and sea robots will debut. Already the Navy is deploying large, fast, high-tech submarines for Seal and other Special Forces. Dozens of fantastic, stealthy ships and boats are in the planning or testing stages. Some prototypes are doubtless deployed.
In space, more durable generations of military satellites are going up and older ones are being upgraded. Increasingly, as space becomes the new ocean of capitalism, the U.S. will have to build defensive systems in order to protect the space lanes of commerce and communications. The Bush administration is going after this. People talk about how we have entered the robotic military age with the current war. But in fact we entered it back in the 1960s, with Pearl Harbor's surprise fresh in mind. I say so because that is when we launched true, unmanned spy satellites—for all intents and purposes, space robots. Strictly speaking, we have been in the Age of War Robots for decades. Also in space, the National Missile Defense is finally off the dime and moving forward. Another successful interception test took place last month in the Pacific. The technology is proving itself, confounding the dour doubters and the perennial pessimists.
In intelligence, the Internet is becoming a new field of battle. In the Kosovo campaign, for example, enemy defenders were astonished at how effectively the U.S. attacked its communications through the Internet. Osama bin Laden and his al Qaeda terror network have been equally dumbfounded, as have his many erstwhile allies—including Iraq, which will soon learn new lessons. Twenty-first century tech defeats both eighth century and Soviet-era tech hands down. Events behind the scenes are moving even faster. Futuristic micro-spyplanes (and ground vehicles) no bigger than small birds and insects are about to enter the U.S. arsenal; perhaps already have for specialized purposes. The devices will permit a quantum leap in the level of stealthy spying at the heart of enemy territory.
More Surprise, More Technology The foregoing developments, and many more, can be traced to the surprise of Pearl Harbor. When the U.S. said "never again," it meant it. What we are witnessing today is the fruit of that bitter lesson. I only wish that those killed at Pearl Harbor could know what their deaths set in motion. The 9/11 Massacre has sparked similar, positive effects. Technology that had sat dormant in the "tomorrow file" is suddenly in demand. In the years ahead, we will find that the 9/11 Massacre pushed technology to yet higher levels. Yes, the price will be high; but not as high as not doing it. Those who fell in New York, Washington, D.C., and the fields of Philadelphia, did not die in vain. Their deaths have jump-started American defense into a sharper state of awareness, drive, and determination. The 9/11 victims, like the dead at Pearl Harbor, would be proud of how their nation has responded.
I also think that on this day of memories we owe President Bush a special thanks. Like President Roosevelt, he has risen to the events of his time—and then some. He has responded with honor, candor, steel will, and smart strategy. Where did he get this "unexpected" backbone and brainpower? In part he got it from his own father, who fought in World War II, a conflict that Pearl Harbor forced us to enter. Thus the past reaches out to give strength to the future. It has energized Mr. Bush. And the resolve that he shows today will assure that tomorrow's presidents will respond well to the surprises of their day. As long as evildoers walk the earth, surprises will be with us. That is in the nature of humanity. We can minimize the danger, but never eliminate it. From time to time, the bad guys will bushwhack us. But that is not the main thing to remember. The main thing to remember is that America does respond—intelligently, vigorously, and ferociously. Let us hold our heads high, for that is exactly how free men should carry on in defense of their liberty and way of life.
Let us also recall that the chain of response goes back decades before Pearl Harbor. It stretches from the Revolutionary War, to the War of 1812, to the Mexican War, to the Civil War, to the Spanish-American War, to World War I—and many conflicts scattered among them. In all, there were surprises. In all, good men rallied their resolve. In all, American soldiers and leaders mustered their courage and resources and weapons—and prevailed. America is a free nation that was born in war, and reborn in war many times. We have a long history of rising to fight for our freedom. Of that, too, Pearl Harbor should remind us. It is not often put in such terms, but it is part of a glorious history. It is a history of liberty triumphant. It reminds us that freedom is the right path—and that our ancestors chose well. As do we every time we act to defend what they brought into being.
—EGR
DTOM
Good article.
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