Shock And Awe: An Operational Art Critique

摘要

The great technological leaps in communications, information technology and precision munitions have spawned a 'Revolution in Military Affairs' that seeks to leverage the information age to produce a new paradigm of warfare. One product of this revolution is the concept of 'Shock and Awe', which advocates achieving rapid dominance of an adversary by the application of military force of such magnitude, precision and swiftness that it stuns the enemy, breaks the will to resist and makes further resistance appear futile. In theory, 'Shock and Awe' will force a quick capitulation by the enemy with forces that may even be smaller in number than the enemy's forces. An operational art critique of 'Shock and Awe' reveals the strengths and weaknesses of the concept. It identifies its roots in the coercive air power theories of Boyd and Warden, details the significant burden intelligence carries in conducting a 'Shock and Awe' operation, notes the impact the 'fog' and 'friction' of war could produce and outlines the inherent difficulties of targeting the enemy's will as a center of gravity. 'Shock and Awe' is a concept worthy of consideration by combatant and joint task force commanders, but must not become a sole strategy for winning a major conflict.