Major Weapons, Minor Wars: Battlefields of the 21st Century

摘要

History is replete with vivid examples of military failure that can be attributed to an inability to grasp fundamental changes that affect the nature of the next battlefield. This myopia is largely born of perceived success, is constrained by the power of preconceived notions, and is characterized by a heavy reliance on the 'lessons' and circumstances which brought success in the last conflict. As the Cold War competition between two superpowers fades into history, America and the world deserve to savor their success at having walked through the gauntlet of nuclear Armageddon. The demise of the Soviet Union does not mean the end of the threat of armed confrontation, however. Indeed, in many ways the relaxation of Cold War pressures could herald the advent of previously constrained regional disputes quickly reaching the combustion point. In any event, one thing appears obvious: the world now stands at the threshold of a new era of violent engagement. America's efforts to shape an effective military capability for this aspect of the new world order will largely determine the nature of our political and economic role in the post- Cold War world. It is therefore imperative that we understand the defining characteristics of tomorrow's battlefield and fashion our military forces accordingly. The purpose of the present study will be to sketch the salient factors affecting the nature of warfare in the wake of the Cold War and to address how the Marine Corps should respond to the challenges and opportunities presented by this new military environment. This response will address the broad philosophical issues that should guide the development of a Marine Corps- specific role in likely military scenarios and will focus on weapons and equipment development as well as new directions for leadership selection and training.