The New American Way of War

摘要: "THE AMERICAN WAY OF WAR." That phrase-popularized by the military historian Russell Weigley in his 1973 book-has come to refer a grinding strategy of attrition: employed Ulysses S. Grant destroy Robert E. Lee's army 1864-65, John J. Pershing wear down German 1918, and U.S. Army Air Force pulverize all major cities Germany Japan 1944-45. In this view, Civil War, World War I, II were won not tactical or strategic brilliance but sheer weight numbers-the awesome destructive power that only frilly mobilized highly industrialized democracy can bring bear. these conflicts, armies composed citizen-soldiers suffered inflicted massive casualties. Much same methods characterized conflicts Korea Vietnam, though with decreasing levels success; former being costly draw, latter bloody failure. The first GulfWar was much more successful, many ways, it still fit traditional, fire power-intensive mode: than five weeks relentless bombing followed armored onslaught. Although "left hook" swept around Iraqi forces entrenched Kuwait showed some operational flair, hardly gamble-the eight-division allied force so heavy simply crushed everything its path.