The United States has significantly increased the deployment of missile defense systems, specifically Patriot and Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (Aegis-BMD), to the Persian Gulf over the past six years. The increase from no missile defense assets...
This study seeks to isolate and probe the possible deterrent influence of conventional doctrine through a case study of the former Soviet Union's reaction to the US Army's doctrinal evolution from 1976 (Active Defense) to 1985 (AirLand Battle). US...
This study examines the doctrinal definition of deterrence, reviews Bernard Brodie's deterrence theory and discusses the impacts of his theory upon state and nonstate actors. The study further defines the terms asymmetry and asymmetrical threats...
The United States (U.S.) faces threats from non-states, including terrorist organizations and piracy in the Horn of Africa, all of which are quite different from the super-power threat posed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War. The U.S....
In 1997, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) directed the five geographic combatant Commander in Chiefs (CINC) to formally link their regional operational engagement objectives with the national strategic objectives by developing...
The purpose of this monograph is to determine the adequacy of our current, alliance based, conventional force strategy. The scope is limited to the application of force to achieve the national objectives of deterrence and containment. The problem...
The dissolution of the Warsaw Pact and Soviet Union has removed the traditional Cold War logic and security rationale for the forward deployment of theater nuclear weapons (TNWs) in Europe. Moreover, with a reduction of almost 90 percent of U.S....
Nation states develop and pursue foreign policy based upon their national goals and interests. In their attempts to realize these goals and because of different perceptions of reality, competition develops which may even lead to conflict. An...
Coercion theory is traditionally segmented into compellence and deterrence. Recently
theorists have begun to consider coercion comprehensively. This monograph continues that line
of study and defines coercion as the threat of, or use of, elements...
While the United States and Russia have many disagreements, very few of these affect nuclear weapon policy. One that has recently done so, however, is the argument over ballistic missile defense systems in Europe. The United States has signed...
On July 12, 2006, Israel went to war with Hezbollah in response to the killing and capture of Israeli soldiers along the southern Lebanese border. Believed at the time by many in the West to be an overreaction to a relatively minor border incident...
This study examines what changes need to be made in U.S. strategy, policy, and programs in order to prevent a nuclear attack on its space-based assets. The study was inspired by an event, which occurred during the Army After Next Winter Wargame...
This monograph is an effort to stimulate thinking and discussion on a theory of peace for the United States of America. American national security and military planners currently develop strategic, operational and tactical concepts primarily based...
This study examines the escalation rates and intensity levels of US/ USSR post-WW II confrontations in relation to the number of strategic nuclear weapons available to these nations to determine if a relationship exists. That is, have strategic...
Following the Cold War, the United States reduced the size of its military. Much of the remaining force became home-based in the United States. The downsized Air Force had remained continually engaged in combat operations since 1991. In an effort...
Coercion theory centers on an actor's ability to influence the decision making of an opponent. This monograph examines military operations in Libya 2011, Operations Unified Protector and Odyssey Dawn, through the lens of coercion theory. It seeks...
Developing a strategic bomber in today's budget constrained environment is a challenging prospect. The design requirements must address conflict across the spectrum and remain relevant regardless of the enemy America faces. The operational concept...
This monograph examines the concept of a mutual tank-free zone for the European Central Region and tests its validity as a possible operational concept for NATO. The discussion assesses the military implications of the concept and its usefulness as...
The attached monograph, 'On the Foundations of National Military Strategy: Past and Present,' identifies the Hobbesian nation-state system, the Soviet threat, Containment, Deterrence, the Bi-polar balance of power, European focus, and a cumbersome...
Operations short of war, which are often dangerous and challenging, are a big concern for today's Armed Forces. Also important is the study of operational art. The linkage between these two concepts, not yet fully developed, is critical. Defining...