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...
America's recent experience in Afghanistan and Iraq proved that it is easier to get into war than it is to get out of it. These two conflicts bleed America, in terms of not only blood, but also its financial treasures. In an attempt to avoid these...
In December 2010, spontaneous protests began in Tunisia following the self-immolation of a Tunisian citizen, who was upset after having his vegetable cart seized by Tunisian police. Wide spread demonstrations followed in the capital city of Tunis....
The Arab Spring is an event that has radically shifted the geopolitical landscape in one of the most volatile regions of the world. Many experts and policy makers were caught off guard by the speed and organizational ability of disparate citizens...
Airpower has a significant influence within the American political process. Political debate over the application of airpower in limited conflicts involves when and how to use it, and whether it can be the sole means of military force. This...
The Italian Army developed a sound and unique combined arms doctrine for mechanized warfare in 1938. This new doctrine was called the “War of Rapid Decision.” It involved the use of mechanized warfare in the Italian version of the blitzkrieg....
Throughout history, terrorist organizations have attacked nation-states using increasingly more sophisticated methods of destruction. The attacks on 11 September 2001, demonstrated a higher level of commitment by state and non-state actors to...
This thesis examines military presence as an effective means of influencing conflict management/resolution in contemporary mid level conflicts. Advocated in the National Security Strategy, presence, a concept with a long naval history, has taken on...
Using military force against an enemy to punish, avenge a wrong, as retribution is a timeless cause of armed conflict. There are many examples throughout history of successful punitive operations. Analyzing historical punitive expeditions for the...
In the last two decades, NATO's operations have exposed significant shortcomings in the organization's military capabilities. The Alliance has relied on the U.S. to provide either the bulk of the forces or the majority of the critical capabilities...
This study investigates the legal use of terror as a weapon to accomplish national goals and objectives. This study does not advocate using terrorism. Terrorism, for the purpose of this paper, is illegal. Legal terror, by my criteria, conforms to...
General Marshall has stated that a knowledge of the causes and the events leading up to the present war and of the principles for which we are fighting "is an indispensable part of military training and merits the thoughtful consideration of every...
This private war journal comprises seven volumes covering the dates 14 August 1939 to 24 September 1942, the date of Halder's dismissal by Hitler. The journal was kept by Halder personally in his own shorthand and contains notes on conferences,...
My primary research question is: can social networks assist analysts fight terrorism? My secondary research questions are as follows. First, how does social networking create linkages? Second, how have social networks been used to solve small...
September 11,2001, was a day that future historians will call a hinge of history. On that day, a lethal blow was struck in the heart of freedom. From that day on, international terrorism could no longer be considered a tactical threat with no real...
While the Persian Gulf War confirmed the political and strategic utility of using ballistic missiles as a terror weapon, the effect of ballistic missiles on tactical operations has received much less attention. Despite growing evidence of...
This monograph discusses five considerations for campaign planners to use in planning attacks on an enemy's command and control (C2) system. Development of the considerations focuses on the top military and political leadership as the most...
This study analyzes the Army's doctrinal definition of the battlefield framework through examination of British operations against the Italians in North Africa during the period, June 1940 through February 1941. This example illustrates how...