Essay about The Nature of War Clausewitz - 1374 Words

Clausewitz defines war as an â€Å"act of force to compel our enemy to do our will.† The nature of war is enduring yet the character of war changes over time. Current US strategic guidance is advancing the point of view that since the character of war has changed to focus on irregular wars then the US military should prepare for a future of irregular wars. This shift in focus forgets that the nature of war is enduring and in order to be successful, we must prepare for all types of conflict. This paper will define the types of conflict and the likelihood of each followed by a discussion of US strategic guidance and ending with an analysis of the training resources and force structure requirements needed to achieve success for all types of†¦show more content†¦The US strategic guidance places an emphasis on focusing on irregular warfare threats but does not dismiss the possibility of conventional threats. The National Security Strategy states: â€Å"We are strengthening our military to ensure that it can prevail in today’s wars; to prevent and deter threats against the United States, its interests, and our allies and partners; and prepare to defend the United States in a wide range of contingencies against state and nonstate actors. We will continue to rebalance our military capabilities to excel at counterterrorism, counterinsurgency, stability operations, and meeting increasingly sophisticated security threats, while ensuring our force is ready to address the full range of military operations.† The 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review is in line with the National Security Strategy when it states, U.S. ground forces will remain capable of full-spectrum operations, with continued focus on capabilities to conduct effective and sustained counterinsurgency, stability, and counterterrorist operations alone and in concert with partners. Irregular threats are therefore the focus of US strategic guidance and are in line with global trends for the most likely type of military action. Even though the focus of US strategic guidance isShow MoreRelatedClausewitz On Nature And Character Of War1486 Words   |  6 PagesClausewitz on Nature and Character of War There are no universal theories to explain the true nature and character of war, and any war theories are not a fact or absolute truth. All strategic principles are dynamic and contextual, so â€Å"every age had its own kind of war, its own limiting conditions, and its own peculiar preconceptions.† The battlefield environment of the 21st century will be the volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous, and nature of war will be completely different because ofRead MoreCarl Von Clausewitz s The Fundamental Nature Of War1065 Words   |  5 Pages Carl von Clausewitz articulated a number of observations and principles describing the fundamental nature of war. 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