Lessons From the Revolution: What Recent US Military Operations Reveal About the Revolution in Military Affairs and Future Combat

Authors

  • Andrew Richter University of Windsor

Abstract

Over the past five years, US military forces have fought in three major conflicts – Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Examined together, the three campaigns offer valuable lessons and insights regarding how future US military forces are likely to fight, as well as observations about the Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA). The conflicts reveal that the US can be expected to prioritize air assets and special forces in coming years, as the value of both capabilities has been clearly demonstrated. However, the paper also reveals that military transformation is not a static process, and thus maintaining operational flexibility will remain a critical attribute of any successful military.

Author Biography

Andrew Richter, University of Windsor

Andrew Richter is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Windsor. His primary areas of research are Canadian foreign and defence policy, proliferation, and the impact of advanced technology on the use of force. His most recent book is Avoiding Armageddon: Canadian Military Strategy and Nuclear Weapons, 1950-1963 (UBC Press, 2002). He has published in a wide array of journals, including International Journal, Comparative Strategy, and Naval War College Review.

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Issue

Vol. 7 No. 3 (2004): Winter 2004

Section

Articles