Powell-Weinberger & COIN/Stability & Reconstruction Ops
"Essentially, the Doctrine expresses that military action should be used only as a last resort and only if there is a clear risk to national security by the intended target; the force, when used, should be overwhelming and disproportionate to the force used by the enemy; there must be strong support for the campaign by the general public; and there must be a clear exit strategy from the conflict in which the military is engaged." -PBS, NEWSHOUR
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"Powell based this strategy for warfare in part on the views held by his former boss in the Reagan administration, Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger, and also on his own experience as a major in Vietnam." -PBS, NEWSHOUR
The time to relook the validity of the P-W Doctrine is now. There is absolutely nothing wrong with "overwhelming and disproportionate force" and "support from the public" or for that matter "a clear exit strategy." The question to ask is what constitutes overwhleming force, support and exit strategy in COIN and Stability and Reconstruction Operations?
If the goal is to establish a Sustainable Peace, which I define as: the decisive turning point where the target state is capable of providing its own security, maintaining the rule of law, and exercising a free and independent democratic government without extensive external military and civilian support (from NPGS Thesis: Progressive Reconstruction, p.7). Then we can claim the establishment of it as the moment to exit. To get to the exit point we (following P-W) should apply all our effort (overwhelming and disproportionate) across the spectrum to achieve that goal.
There is nothing wrong with applying the P-W doctrine to these type operations. It is a valid and proven doctrine and is better than that which we apply today.
-T
Several Powell-Weinberger Doctrine sites for review:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powell_Doctrine
http://www.afa.org/magazine/Aug1999/0899powell.asp
A lesson Plan :
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/te...ldoctrine.html
Progressive Reconstruction: a Methodology for Stabilization and Reconstruction Operations. http://theses.nps.navy.mil/06Sep_Rohr.pdf
"overwhelming and disproportionate force"
Ok to put it bluntly you are stuck in a box. None of you see the word 'force' as anything but kinetic. Think of Force in other terms. Here is the Websters definition:
1 a (1) : strength or energy exerted or brought to bear : cause of motion or change : active power <the forces of nature> <the motivating force in her life> (2) capitalized -- used with a number to indicate the strength of the wind according to the Beaufort scale <a Force 10 hurricane> b : moral or mental strength c : capacity to persuade or convince <the force of the argument>
2 a : military strength b (1) : a body (as of troops or ships) assigned to a military purpose (2) plural : the whole military strength (as of a nation) c : a body of persons or things available for a particular end <a labor force> <the missile force> d : an individual or group having the power of effective action <join forces to prevent violence> <a force in politics> e often capitalized : POLICE FORCE -- usually used with the
3 : violence, compulsion, or constraint exerted upon or against a person or thing. The quality of conveying impressions intensely in writing or speech <stated the objectives with force
There is nothing in this definition that pidgeon holes us into strategic bombing attacks. Force is not just the ability to bludgeon the enemy to death. It is not just the application of steel on target and masses of troops on the ground.
It is the means to compel, to constrain. Overwhelming force, disproportionate force, means doing what needs to be done and not holding back--if what needs to be done is to coerce tribal leaders, to build schools, to bring agriculture specialists, to rebuild police forces and armies. Then that is what you do. But you do it all out, with a stated goal of establishing a stabile peace.
Why might you ask? I'll tell you becuase the American People NEED a stated functioning doctrine that is simple to cover even the most complex of conflicts as is COIN. The American People know Powell-Weinberger, they like it, it appeals to the senses: it is the American Way of War. It was sold to them and it works. Tell them the reason why we need more money for Iraq, or to surge, or to initiate a plan B is based upon the P-W doctrine to go all out to win this fight and establish the criteria for exit which is a Stabile Peace then they will understand and support.
-T
more on sustainable peace
THE SUSTAINABLE PEACE
"A sustainable peace requires a strong and liberal law code implemented through legislation, reflecting basic human rights. Human rights monitoring, training and capacity building agencies sponsored by the government and indigenous non-governmental agencies. Corrections and detention facilities and staffs funded, trained and monitored in compliance with national and international laws. Reconciliation projects including courts and tribunals, reparations commissions, investigative and apprehension apparatus, and outreach programs fully supported and operational. Community rebuilding, confidence building, religious tolerance, and women’s rights are also important elements of the reconstruction. Refugees and internally displaced persons must be protected and reintroduced to the community. In other words it is a huge project, and potentially extremely costly in time, dollars and personnel.
Because of its great attendant cost, nation-state building has been avoided. However, with the global threat of terrorism, avoidance is no longer possible....
If the target state has been determined to be a failed or rogue state by the international community and the mandate for the intervention is clear then the intervention is legitimate. With the proper planning and allocation of manpower and material resources it will work.
It is important because it will reduce the threat of terrorist supporting rogue states. It will bring another nation into the productive world body. It will assist the noncombatant majorities within these states to achieve self-determination and democracy. It works best when instituted from the beginning [of an operation]. It can be used after but it will be harder...
The overall goal of the intervention is to change the political situation through military means, but once combat is over there needs to be a visible change in newly pacified or liberated areas. The overt demonstration of the benefits of the intervention and of the future benefits of democracy must become the focus of operations."