SSI Annual Strategy Conference: The Meaning of War

Conference web site

"THE MEANING OF WAR--AND WHY IT MATTERS"

DAY 1

KEYNOTE: Gen (ret) Anthony Zinni, topic/title TBD

PANEL 1: The Historic Context
Participants: Dr. Conrad Crane, Dr. Brian Linn, Dr. John Lynn, Dr. Antulio Echevarria

PANEL 2: How do we know that we are at war?
•Covert or hidden war
•Should we abandon the notion of declarations of war and peace treaties?
Participants: Dr. Michael Vlahos, Johns Hopkins Applies Physics Laboratory, Lt Gen (ret) Peter Leahy, former Chief, Australian Army, Dr. James Carafano, Heritage Foundation, Dr. Peter Dombrowski, Naval War College

PANEL 3: How do we know when a war is over?
•The meaning of "victory" in the 21st century
•The concept of perpetual war
Participants: Professor Jeremy Black, University of Exeter, Dr. Andrew Bacevich, Boston University, MG (ret) William Nash, Council on Foreign Relations

BANQUET: MG (ret) Robert Scales

DAY 2

PANEL 4: Who participates in war?
•The appropriate form of public involvement
•The private sector
•Whole-of-government effort
•Alliances and international organizations
Participants: COL Robert Cassidy, Naval War College, Dr. Paul Kan, U.S. Army War College, Dr. Thomas X. Hammes, Institute for National Strategic Studies. Dr. Michael Klare, Hampshire College

PANEL 5: What rules govern war?
•The law and ethics of warfare
•Alternative rule sets
•Just war
Participants: Dr. Albert C. Pierce, National Defense University, Dr. Martin Cook, Naval War College, COL Richard Pregent, U.S. Army Office of the Judge Advocate General, Dr. Deane-Peter Baker, U.S. Naval Academy

PANEL 6: Why does it matter?
•Implications for U.S. national security strategy
•Implications for the U.S. military (leader development, organization and force development, doctrine)
Participants: Professor John F. Troxell, U.S. Army War College, LTC (ret) Nathan Freier, Dr. Thomas Mahnken, Naval War College

General Zinni had to drop out as the keynoter but I think--and this isn't final yet pending some admin issues--Martin Van Creveld is going on step in.