SEEKING VICTORY AT A DISCOUNT: THE IMPACT OF THE MILITARY-TECHNICAL REVOLUTION ON FORCE-LEVEL DECISIONS DURING PLANNING FOR OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM
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Authors
Gross, Kurt J.
Subjects
strategy
Operation Iraqi Freedom
paradigm shift
Military-Technical Revolution
Revolutions in Military Affairs
war on terrorism
decisive force
Operation Iraqi Freedom
paradigm shift
Military-Technical Revolution
Revolutions in Military Affairs
war on terrorism
decisive force
Advisors
Russell, James A.
Date of Issue
2023-09
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
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Abstract
This thesis examines one central question: How did the paradigm shift of the Military-Technical Revolution impact force-level decisions for the initial phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003? This issue encompasses an additional question: namely, why did the Bush administration decide to dramatically reduce the force-level recommendations embodied by pre-9/11 Iraq war plans? By applying the theoretical construct of Kuhn's paradigm shift to the notion of Revolutions in Military Affairs, I conclude that the Military-Technical Revolution convinced military planners that a whole new strategy was appropriate for the era of the war on terror. This constituted a radical break with the manpower-heavy requirements of the previous Decisive Force paradigm. The thesis ends with implications for the current security environment, where rising tensions with China and Russia and a host of new technologies (artificial intelligence, hypersonic missiles, etc.) seem to some to offer the potential to remake warfare.
Type
Thesis
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Department
National Security Affairs (NSA)
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Distribution Statement
Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.