Military Power: Explaining Victory and Defeat in Modern Battle Stephen Biddle

Agenda Dr. Biddle’s biography Context of writing Theory Strengths and weaknesses Impact on doctrine Bibliography Questions

Dr. Biddle Biography Harvard Educated June 2001-July of 2006: Professor of National Security Studies at the U.S. Army War College Strategic Studies Institute 2006 – Present: Senior fellow for the Council on Foreign Relations 2007: GEN Petraeus Joint Strategic Assessment Team (Baghdad) 2009: GEN McChrystal’s Initial Strategic Estimate Team (Kabul) Published widely in International Relations forums Realism

Context of Dr. Biddle’s Writings War in the 20 th and 21 st centuries Economics Technology focused solutions Revolutions in military affairs

Theory Revolutions in military affairs –No paradigm shifts (Kuhn) Military power –Seizing and controlling territory –Mid to high intensity continental warfare –Mid intensity warfare Afghanistan The Balkans –High intensity warfare Conventional world wars

Theory Lethality and technology The “modern system” –Reduce exposure –Force employment –Combined arms maneuver –Disciplined initiative of junior leaders –Training, Training, Training Numerical preponderance Difficulty of implementation

Impact on Doctrine ADP 1-0, The Army Profession –Training ADP 3-0, Unified Land Operations –Combined Arms Maneuver ADP 6-0, Mission Command –Disciplined Initiative ADP 3-90, Offense and Defense –Combined Arms Maneuver –Depth –Reserves –Dispersion –Suppression

Bibliography Army Doctrine Publication (ADP) 3-0, Unified Land Operations. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, Biddle, Stephen. Military Power: Explaining Victory and Defeat in Modern Battle. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, Council on Foreign Relations. “Experts: Stephen Biddle.” The Council on Foreign Relations Think Tank. Accessed July 23, biddle/b2603 Malkasian, Carter. Review of Military Power: Explaining Victory and Defeat in Modern Battle. Journal of Military History 71, no. 2 (April 2007): Wirtz, James. Review of Military Power: Explaining Victory and Defeat in Modern Battle. Journal of Politics 68, no. 2 (May 2006):

Questions

Strengths and Weaknesses Strengths Multiple methodologies Accounts for intangible factors RMAs anomalies are explained Weaknesses Focused on the wrong level of warfare Quantity has a quality all of its own