Victory in War: Foundations of Modern Military Policy
by William C. Martel
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Book Summary Information
Author: William C. MartelEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2006-12-25
ISBN: 0521859565
Number of pages: 446
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Book Reviews of Victory in War: Foundations of Modern Military Policy
Book Review: A REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT
Summary: 5 Stars
A fresh, original, pioneering book that adds a new roadmap to thinking about military endeavers. Like any good philosophical work, there is an emphasis on precision in language. The Book begins with 9/11. President Bush declared victory in Iraq after several weeks of combat operations. Since we're still stuck there, what did he mean? In the introduction, the author addresses two major questions. "...there is no theory or precise language that permits policymakers, military officials and the public to agree on what 'victory' means or when 'victory' has been attained." Second: "...humans have been waging war for the past six thousand years without a framework for victory, and yet have successively waged wars. How can this be so? Is a theory of victory something distinct from a military strategy in war or a theory of war. What do we gain by developing one? How would such a theory fit into modern defense planning?" The author modestly describes this book as only the first step.
The next two chapters, beginning with Sun Tzu, provide a useful summary of the major military thinkers. They conclude with the problems arising from nuclear warfare. Remember the "nuclear winter" discussions of the late eighties. Victory would be meaningless. However, the War on Terror has restored the concept of victory to the language.
He spends the next two chapters exploring what could be meant by "victory" and the definition problems. They cover in detail the American concept of "victory" arising from our history. The next six chapters provide thoughts on selected American military actions post vietnam, beginning with the raid on Lobya. The next chapter discusses military power and the concept of victory. In the final analysis, successful occupation by ground forces is the ultimate seal. The contribution and limitations of navel and airpower are recognized.
The concluding chapter outlines possible avenues for future scholarship to build on what the author started. As readers might expect, the writing is dense and somewhat repetitive with a social science flavor. It should not deter anyone from tackling this book because of its importance.
In all my years of reading about military affairs and history, I've never encountered anything quite like the ideas in this volume. There's nothing comparable in my extensive personal military history library. His call for new thinking is a critical appeal since we've embarked on the heartrending struggle in Iraq. Without a clear idea of what we expected to achieve, there's no wonder we find ourselves in such straits. The real tragedy is that fine young people are dying there for an undefined purpose. This book could not be more timely. I urge everyone to read it.
Summary of Victory in War: Foundations of Modern Military Policy
For millennia, policymakers, statesmen, and scholars have grappled with questions about the concept of victory in war. How long does it take to achieve victory and how do we know when victory is achieved? And, as highlighted by the wars against Afghanistan and Iraq, is it possible to win a war and yet lose the peace? The premise of this book is that we do not have a modern theory about victory and that, in order to answer these questions, we need one. This book explores historical definitions of victory, how victory has evolved, and how it has been implemented in war. It also subsequently develops the intellectual foundations of a modern pre-theory of victory, and discusses the military instruments necessary for victory in the twenty-first century using case studies that include U.S. military intervention in Panama, Libya, Persian Gulf War, Bosnia/Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq.General Books
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