Monographs

Political Control over the Use of Force: A Clausewitzian Perspective LTC Suzanne C Nielsen Monograph by the US Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute "What is the ideal relationship between the commander and the statesman in time of war? Is there a balance to be struck between political control and military operational expertise? Given the importance of these questions, the range of answers that has been given to them by both theorists and practitioners is striking. Major Suzanne Nielsen addresses these issues by examining what Carl von Clausewitz has to say about civil-military relations and the use of force. Though Clausewitz’s insight that “War is a continuation of policy” is well-known, his arguments about the appropriateness of extensive political control during time of war are not as often discussed. Clausewitz provides an argument for extensive political influence over military operations—influence that lacks a clear limit."

Plan Colombia: The Strategic and Operational Imperatives Dr Gabriel Marcella Monograph by the US Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute "The crisis in Colombia is the most compelling challenge the United States faces in the Western Hemisphere. The United States is committed to helping Colombia fight its struggle against the violence and corruption engendered by the traffic in narcotics. This report examines the strategic theory within Plan Colombia, the master plan which the government of Colombia developed to strengthen democracy through peace, security, and economic development."

Fighting the Hobbesian Trinity in Colombia: A New Strategy for Peace COL Joseph R Nunez Monograph by the US Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute "In this monograph, one of a special series on Colombia, Colonel Joseph R. Nuñez first analyzes the intervention conundrum of Colombia. He then summarizes the reasons for the violent and anarchic situation that frustrates those wishing to make peace and expand democracy. After introducing what he calls the “Hobbesian trinity,” he then discusses alternatives to intervention and notes the complexity of the human rights challenge."

The Army and Homeland Security: A Strategic Perspective Dr Antulio J Echevarria II Monograph by the US Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute "The topic of homeland security includes a broad array of missions and mission areas ranging from national missile defense to military assistance to civil authorities. Recently the topic has attracted a great deal of attention due to the public’s heightened awareness of the variety and nature of emerging threats and of the United States’ vulnerabilities to them."

Landpower and Crises: Army Roles and Missions in Smaller-Scale Contingencies During the 1990s Dr Conrad C Crane Monograph by the US Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute "In this study, Dr. Conrad Crane analyzes the role of landpower in the 170 SSCs conducted during the last decade. He disaggregates such contingencies into engagement, enhanced deterrence, hostility, and stabilization phases, and discusses the military’s role in each one. Though cruise missiles and aircraft have been the primary policy tool for actual hostilities, the Army has been the predominant service in the other phases, especially for stabilization. He points out that no major foreign policy objectives have been achieved from major theater deployments during the last decade without some form of significant longterm Army involvement in the region after the crisis has been resolved."

The Asia-Pacific in the U.S. National Security Calculus for a New Millennium Dr Andrew Scobell, Dr Larry M Wortzel Monograph by the US Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute "The Asia-Pacific region has become increasingly central to U.S. national security concerns. The drawdown of U.S. forces that began in the mid-1970s has not translated into a decline in U.S. interest or engagement in the Asia-Pacific. The United States continues to have a significant forward presence, steadfast allies, and thriving trade and investment in countries throughout the region."

Generations Apart: Xers and Boomers in the Officer Corps Dr Leonard Wong Monograph by the US Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute "This monograph addresses the junior officer attrition problem by identifying and discussing the disparity between senior and junior officers in terms of generational differences. Officers from the Baby Boom Generation think and perceive things differently than officers from Generation X. Using empirical evidence to support the generational differences literature, the author points out that Generation X officers are more confident in their abilities, perceive loyalty differently, want more balance between work and family, and are not intimidated by rank. Additionally, while pay is important to Generation X officers, it alone will not keep junior officers from leaving. The solutions presented in the monograph range from strategic policies changing the Army as an organization to operational leadership actions affecting the face-to-face interaction between senior and junior officers."

Peacekeeping and the Just War Tradition COL Tony Pfaff Monograph by the US Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute "In the following monograph, Major Tony Pfaff, a former Assistant Professor of Philosophy at the United States Military Academy, addresses an important source of much of the confusion that currently surrounds many of the Operations Other Than War (OOTW) that the military finds itself participating in with increasing frequency. The author points out that, though the source of this confusion is primarily ethical, it has important operational implications as well. In the Just War Tradition, as well as the Law of War, there has always been a tension between winning and fighting well, and the peacekeeping environment does not change this. Commonly, the resolution of this tension is expressed in the maxim: always use the least amount of force necessary to achieve the military objective. This maxim applies, regardless of the environment one is in. The author’s contention is, however, that the understanding of necessary is radically different in the peacekeeping environment than what it is in more conventional operations."

Chinese Arms Exports: Policy, Players and Process Dr Bates Gill, Mr Evan S Medeiros Monograph by the US Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute "Global arms proliferation continues to be a key concern for the United States, particularly the export role of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Clearly, the PRC is a key player in the world’s arms bazaar. Although China experienced a significant decline in its arms exports in the 1990s (down from the boom times of the 1980s), the PRC provides a significant array of lethal weapons and sensitive defense technologies to states around the world. These exports provide an invaluable means by which to assess the progress and performance of China’s military-industrial complex. Moreover, these products may represent the very systems and technological know-how that the United States and allied forces will encounter in a future conflict."