Warlords and Mootw: U.S. Commanders Must Apply Operational Factors and the Principles of War

摘要

The United States military has been increasingly tasked to conduct MOOTW in regions controlled by warlords, individuals who have seized or maintained power through the use of military force. Examples from the recent past include Panama, Haiti, Somalia, Iraq and the Balkans. The US has achieved mixed results in these MOOTW missions. As we enter the 21st Century, it is quite likely that we will be called upon to conduct MOOTW in many other areas of the globe unknown to most Americans. To preclude a repeat of the October 1993 tragedy in which eighteen military personnel were killed in Somalia, US commanders must utilize operational art. Specifically, operational commanders must utilize the operational factors of time, force and space. Additionally, these commanders should apply the principles of war and reject MOOTW doctrine that constrains the effectiveness of US forces against warlords.