Applicability of the Concepts of Operational Design in a Peace Environment.

摘要

The disintegration of the Soviet Union as a world power and other geopolitical conflicts presents present opportunities for groups who aggressively seek power or autonomy. The resulting violence often requires a combination of diplomacy, military intervention and economic assistance to reach a long-term solution. As military missions continue to broaden from combat operations to humanitarian relief and stability operations, problems may not be resolved through the application of traditional combat power. Success in these missions requires a change from force destruction to peace preservation, and a transition in doctrine to match this change. Although there is specific doctrine for peace and stability operations, there is no difference in the basic concepts of operational design between combat and peace operational planning. Center of gravity, decisive points, and lines of operation are clearly defined terms used in planning combat operations, but how these terms apply in the development of peace operations planning is confusing. Therefore, the question is, are war fighting concepts applicable in the planning process for peace operations. The monograph explores US intervention in Somalia, Bosnia, and Haiti as case studies to determine how the concepts of operational design were applied to peace operations. The monograph recommends military planners concentrate on the factors that can be considered enemies to the peace process and the desired end state in order to identify the decisive points along logical lines of operations; keeping in mind second and third order affects. Additionally, an analysis must be done to determine what second and third order affects may result when military actions are taken against a decisive point.