MODULE 11

OPERATIONAL ART

SEMINAR FOXTROT Group 2

LTC RUFFYLTC MAGALLANESLTC DE SAGONLTC MERCADOLTC GRAYDACDR RUIZLTC CANDELARIOLTC LIMET CARL VON

CLAUSEWITZ

Strategy Concept and Use of Center of Gravity Theory – “Defense as the stronger

form of war” Features of War Addressing Irregular and

Unconventional Warfare Clausewitzian Influence in 21st

Century

Scope of Presentation

Strategy

Strategy is the use of an engagement for the purpose of war Use of engagement- great consideration

on its fighting force. Strategist must define an aim for the

operational side

Strategist Work

Draft the plan, determine the series of actions intended to achieve it

Shape the individual campaigns

Individual engagement

In short, strategist must maintain control throughout

CHARACTERIZATION OF STRATEGIC THEORY

Study the engagement in terms of results

Moral and psychological forces

Deals with planning; components of war and their interrelationship

Elements of Strategy

Strategic elements that affect use of engagement:

Moral Intellectual and psychological qualities

Physical Size of the armed forces

Mathematical Angle lines of operations, movements

Geographical Influence of terrain

Statistical Support and maintenance

Strategy

Are the definitions too broad?

For strategy and strategic theory - YES

Strategy

If so then why did Clausewitz take this approach?

Destruction of the enemy was the aim of strategy ; war as bloodshed

Other factors were being considered such as political leaders, condition in the battlefield and values of protaganists

Battle may be actual , potential or possible

Center of Gravity Focal point where forces of gravity

converge

Centripetal force that binds organizations

COG is neither a strength or a weakness

An equilibrium that when off set all other elements will not function

Center of Gravity

Valid only if enemy possesses sufficient unity & interdependence

A blow directed against COG will have the greatest effect

Specific effect: Collapse of the enemy

Defense as Stronger Form of War

Easier to hold ground than taking it Advantages of waiting and advantages

in position Defense – preservation (troops are

intact)Offense – conquest (troops are thinly dispersed

Pillars of Defense

Militia

Fortresses People

People in arms

Allies

Advantages of Defense

Cover and concealment

Shorter lines of supply Time

Preparation of the terrain

“… the natural course in war is to begin defensively and end by attacking.”

Main Factors in Strategic Effectiveness

Terrain Surprise Concentric attack Fortresses Popular support Moral factors

Features of War

Among the important features of war not discussed by Clausewitz were the ff: Naval and Air Warfare because all of his

works concentrated on land warfare

The limited role of technology in warfare (Revolution in Military Arms)

Ideology in warfare (i.e. religious extremism, fascism)

Irregular and Unconventional Warfare

Conditions for Effective Uprising: Must be fought in the country’s interior Must not be decided by a single stroke

(decisive battle) Theater of operations must be large National character must be suited to that

type of war Country must be rough & inaccessible

because of difficult terrain

Irregular and Unconventional Warfare

One must therefore think of a general

insurrection within the framework of a war

conducted by the regular Army and

coordinated in one all-encompassing plan

Irregular and Unconventional Warfare

Deny the five conditions to develop

and the irregular and unconventional

warfare will not be effective

Clausewitzian Influence in 21th Century

Is there a Clausewitzian influence on modern civilian military leadership’s decision-making and views of war?

“War is merely the continuation of policy by other means.”

Clausewitzian Influence in 21th Century

Clausewitz Concept: “If war is part of policy, policy will determine its character. As policy becomes more ambitious and vigorous, so will war, and this may reach the point where war attains its absolute form.”

Influence: Aggressive conduct of war. Nazi-German expansionist policy Japanese militarism policy

Clausewitzian Influence in 21th Century

Clausewitz Concept: “The probable character and general shape

of any war should mainly be assessed in the light of political factors and conditions”

Influence: “War against Al Qaeda”

Clausewitzian Influence in 21th Century

Clausewitz Concept: “It follows from all this that a strategic

attack with a limited objective is burdened with the defense of other points that the attack itself will not directly cover––far more burdened than it would be if aimed at the heart of the enemy’s power.”

Influence: “Baghdad,Iraq; National Guard”

Strategy Concept and Use of Center of Gravity Theory – “Defense as the stronger

form of war” Features of War Addressing Irregular and

Unconventional Warfare Clausewitzian Influence in 21st

Century

Summary

QUESTIONS?

THANK YOUAND

GOOD MORNING

END OF PRESENTATIONS