Posted on Nov 24, 2015
General Milley's 4 Myths of Warfare. What are your thoughts and what others can you add?
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I was watching a DefenseOne interview with the 39th CSA Gen. Milley. He mentioned 4 general myths of warfare which I found to be interesting and accurate. They are:
1) Wars can be won with stand-off weapons
2) Armies are easy to regenerate
3) Special Forces can do it all
4) Wars are/can be short
..and this got me thinking what other myths can we add to this based on our collective experiences.
1) Wars can be won with stand-off weapons
2) Armies are easy to regenerate
3) Special Forces can do it all
4) Wars are/can be short
..and this got me thinking what other myths can we add to this based on our collective experiences.
Warfare
Combat
Strategy
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 8
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The General's list is not absolute. The addendum to every one of his points is "it depends". It all depends on the nature of the conflict, the political establishments, military forces, and populaces involved.
1. This is a standoff weapon by definition and can win wars: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGM-30_Minuteman
2. Conscription can regenerate armies easily but the quality degrades
3. Depends on the objectives
4. This can be true depending here is a good example: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six-Day_War
So I don't think his "myths" are actually myths, I think that there are instances when they could hold true. Even if they do not hold true most of the time.
1. This is a standoff weapon by definition and can win wars: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGM-30_Minuteman
2. Conscription can regenerate armies easily but the quality degrades
3. Depends on the objectives
4. This can be true depending here is a good example: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six-Day_War
So I don't think his "myths" are actually myths, I think that there are instances when they could hold true. Even if they do not hold true most of the time.
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SGT David T.
CPT Ahmed Faried - If fighting a nuclear power you are correct. If fighting a small non-nuclear power then it is possible. However, the chances of us using such weapons is very slim.
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SGT David T.
CPT Ahmed Faried - I will add this myth to the list: War can be won without civilian casualties.
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The general is correct on all counts (though I'm sure he doesn't need my endorsement!)
1. Stand Off weapons don't root out insurgency...and they possess the potential to create more.
2. It takes more than 12 weeks to make a solider...It takes 17-20 years of being immersed in a
society's values enough to be willing to fight and die for them.
3. Special Forces have very specific missions...they are not, despite some assertions, "just really
good infantry". Warfare is a broad process, including a host of other forces to sustain and win.
4. You have to fight the enemy...then the enemy's reserves...then the enemy's conscripts...then
ideas that propelled them.
1. Stand Off weapons don't root out insurgency...and they possess the potential to create more.
2. It takes more than 12 weeks to make a solider...It takes 17-20 years of being immersed in a
society's values enough to be willing to fight and die for them.
3. Special Forces have very specific missions...they are not, despite some assertions, "just really
good infantry". Warfare is a broad process, including a host of other forces to sustain and win.
4. You have to fight the enemy...then the enemy's reserves...then the enemy's conscripts...then
ideas that propelled them.
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His four points seem very reasonable CPT Ahmed Faried
I concur with the first 3; but, the 4th can be misleading - British operation in Falklands, and our operations in Grenada and Panama were very short. Desert Storm was also short.
1) Wars can be won with stand-off weapons
2) Armies are easy to regenerate
3) Special Forces can do it all
4) Wars are/can be short
I would add
5) Civil wars are civil.
6) We need the newest and most expensive weapons systems to win wars of the future
7) the A-10 Warthog has outlived its usefulness
8) the military services need distinctive camouflage uniforms [remember BDUs]
9) the active component can do it all - no need to bring in the Reserves
10) DoD is efficient and will do what is best for each military service
I concur with the first 3; but, the 4th can be misleading - British operation in Falklands, and our operations in Grenada and Panama were very short. Desert Storm was also short.
1) Wars can be won with stand-off weapons
2) Armies are easy to regenerate
3) Special Forces can do it all
4) Wars are/can be short
I would add
5) Civil wars are civil.
6) We need the newest and most expensive weapons systems to win wars of the future
7) the A-10 Warthog has outlived its usefulness
8) the military services need distinctive camouflage uniforms [remember BDUs]
9) the active component can do it all - no need to bring in the Reserves
10) DoD is efficient and will do what is best for each military service
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