SWJ Small Wars Survey 2012

[MikeF]

So repeating the initial question: Why not only small wars that can be structured and resourced to succeed (with an all-volunteer force) ?

Why are you limiting your question to pre-determine a U.S. military solution to solving other states problems?

What evidence do you have to suggest that a better war theory or better resourced military could in fact provide the solution that you are seeking?

In my mind, the question itself is inherently lacking sophistication or any sense of creativity.

An alternative but less acceptable action is to go public. The last US senior officer to semi-effectively condemn and repudiate political direction as impractical and mis-directed was General Stanley McChrystal. But his reaction lacked impact because it was informal and could be depreciated because it was fuelled in part by alcohol. It would have been more effective to have resigned and later when out of uniform to announce and elaborate on the reasons for resignation at a public forum such as a press conference.

Really? Is this an early attempt at historical revisionism? McChrystal is currently on speaking tours getting paid handsomely for his thoughts.

And thirdly: What is the tipping point for resignation as opposed to acquiescence or possibly brown nosing ?

General Officers have a duty to tell the truth.