2007 Boyd Conference

[SWJED]

The folks at Defense and the National Interest (DNI) have been kind enough to offer a block of seats to members of the Small Wars Journal / Small Wars Council community of interest. Space is very limited – so it’s first come first serve – and the price is right – free. For additional information see the 2007 Boyd Conference entry at the SWJ Blog.

[zenpundit]

I'm attending already - interested in meeting anyone else from SWC who shows up.

[Ski]

I'll be there Zen. Shoot me a PM.

[ericmwalters]

Will be there, running the 9:30 to 10:30 panel on 4GW. Find me during a break!

[zenpundit]

I'll send you two a PM before I leave town so we can connect -Dave I'll come find you as well.

[SWCAdmin]

Well I'll be flying in that afternoon from a business trip so I will definitely miss all the work, but if all goes well it looks like I will be in the AO in time to join the festivities at the "watering hole TBD."

I wish that was all upside and more the story of my life.

I hope to see some Small Wars Council members there.

[Mondor]

How I expected to recognize anyone from SWJ at the conference I'll never know. I guess I thought that everyone would wear their screen name on their name tag.

[SteveMetz]

Originally Posted by Mondor

How I expected to recognize anyone from SWJ at the conference I'll never know. I guess I thought that everyone would wear their screen name on their name tag.

zenpundit should be easy to spot, what with that black robe and pasty complextion.

[zenpundit]

I'll cop to the pasty complexion but I left my black robe at the cleaners that day. I still found Dave and Ski without benefit of any Sith Lord attire.

Great conference!

[Adrian]

Is there going to be a write-up or summary?

[zenpundit]

Hi Adrian

Here are a few:

DNI Report

Dreaming 5GW

Zenpundit -Part II

Zenpundit-Part I.

[SWJED]

Originally Posted by zenpundit

Hi Adrian

Here are a few:

DNI Report

Dreaming 5GW

Zenpundit -Part II

Zenpundit-Part I.

Thanks much Mark. It was a pleasure meeting you there - wish I had more time to talk...

[SWJED]

4GW as a Model of Future Conflict
Boyd 2007 Conference, 13 July 2007
Warfare Since Boyd Panel Presentation

F. G. Hoffman

I have been asked to be the token diversity candidate from outside the 4GW “church” today, and am honored just by the chance to appear at an event that preserves John Boyd’s deep intellectual contributions, and to be on stage with my fellow panelists and Col Eric Walters. My assigned task is to explain why academics and historians have problems with the 4GW construct. My remarks will draw up upon my work on an alternative concept called Hybrid Warfare which I have presented at Oxford University this past winter. My comments will also draw upon unpublished work about to be released in a book titled Global Insurgency and the Future of Armed Conflict, edited by Dr. Terry Terriff, of University of Birmingham (UK) and Aaron Karp and Dr. Regina Karp of Old Dominion University, in which several of our distinguished speakers have prominent contributions including Mr. Lind and Col Hammes.

Let me begin by summarizing the arguments up front. The 4GW construct is often criticized for three major faults.

The theory is described as “weak” and the concept is too diffused, having become over time the equivalent of everything that is asymmetric.

Second the history that is drawn upon is uneven and often “too selective,” that is it is packaged to support a major component of the theory without full examination of trends or detailed counter-findings.

Finally, the generational framework is labeled “indefensible” and unnecessary. In my own assessment, I find that it hides more than it reveals...

More at the link...

[Ski]

Frank's brief was good - he basically stated that 4GW may be flawed, but it's "right enough" to have a lot of merit.