Applying Clausewitz to 21st Century Landpower Theory

摘要

The purpose of this paper is to examine what Clausewitzian employment considerations political and military leaders should discuss when committing landpower to promptly gain, sustain, and exploit control over land, resources, and people. The nature of war and landpower theory are wide-ranging topics. This paper narrows the aperture to topics recent history reveals to be challenging and worthy of additional political-military dialogue during the decision making process. The six points are the nature and character of war, landpower competencies, duration of effort, density of forces, transitions, and the challenge of achieving a lasting peace. Three evaluation criteria are used. First, landpower theory must be valid for the full spectrum of conflict. Second, landpower theory must be applicable throughout the changing character of warfare. Warfare evolves. Belligerents apply the changes to warfare in a manner that maximizes their opportunity for victory. Third, landpower theory must help decision makers identify factors most likely to challenge the accomplishment of the objective. Rarely are the decisions simply selecting right or wrong, but of anticipating the distant order effects decisions have on the environment.