WINNING WARS

by David Nuttle

Among many political and military leaders of developed nations there is some agreement on what it takes to actually win wars. To wit:

a) Avoid half-measures and a quick departure.

b) Be holistic, patient and seek support from others.

c) Solve root causes and repair rifts.

d) Use the appropriate tactics; e. g. don't use conventional means to fight unconventional war as the U. S. tried unsuccessfully to do in Vietnam.

e) Address political, economic, and social causes of the conflict.

f) Halt weapons spread during the conflict.

g) Work to achieve lasting peace and stability.

h) Care for innocent victims of the war.

i) Do not create an army of men who have little to suffer if the enemy wins as the U. S. did in Afghanistan. N. B. In the final analysis, the U. S. should have contracted with the Iraqi Kurd all-female military units to create all-female Afghan military units. The Afghan women knew they would suffer if the Taliban won and they would have fought to defeat them.

j) Never assume that war will somehow achieve nation building.

k) Avoid destruction of an enemy force keeping a more threatening enemy force in "check" as we did with Iraq when Iran was a greater threat.

l) Do not assume a terrorist force cannot be a significant threat.

m) Know what your weapons will truly accomplish such as the value of bombs and artillery against an enemy force mostly underground.

n) Assure your troops have adequate training, weapons, equipment, and support.

o) Holds your friends close and your enemy even closer.

p) Do not think what you don't understand is hostile as the U. S. did in Vietnam by killing a neutral jungle with Agent Orange.

q) Prevent the enemy from having a safe haven such as the U. S. allowed Pakistan to provide for the Taliban terrorists during our war in Afghanistan.

r) Use threats of mutual destruction to deter use of weapons of mass destruction.

s) Adjust to counter enemy battlefield innovations such as surveillance & attack drones.

From what I know and what I have observed, after World War II the U. S. lost most of its ability to know what is required to win wars!!!