Avoiding Over-Reliance on Technology

摘要

Today's warrior plans battles on computers and uses state-of-the-art weapon systems to admonish any threat the United States may encounter. Victory in war for the U.S. military has come swiftly and with precision, and has been accompanied by low loss of life over the last 15 years. In the first Gulf War, the much smaller U.S. force, with weapons technology on its side, fought the then 4th largest army in the world, and won. During the air campaign, Iraqi forces were pummeled relentlessly by the most modern and technologically advanced air force ever known. Moreover, the Navy launched 100 state-of-the-art cruise missiles, with an associated cost of almost one million dollars each, just to start the fight. Tomahawk missiles fired on the first night alone totaled more than all the missiles fired by the enemy throughout the conflict. The second Gulf War reveals dramatically different statistics. Compared to Desert Storm, over twice as many smart bombs were used in only a few weeks' time while utilizing fewer aircraft and airmen. Downsizing the armed forces and employing technologically advanced capabilities continue as the strategic formula for success in modern armed conflict. Leaders at all levels should appreciate the war-winning advantage technologically advanced weapon systems give, but must guard against reliance upon them for success in war. The advantage the United States has today is a fragile one. Thinking opponents will quickly realize that our intensive reliance on information age technologies can become an asymmetric target. It is alarming to look ahead to a future when third world countries, rogue states, and other possible combatants gain the same deadly technology. Consider the threat of losing the only advantage, advanced weaponry systems, to a determined enemy by the year 2010. The only solution is to prepare for losing the advantage and to maintain adequate strength in the number of prepared, trained, and ready conventional forces.