Recent Publications

Plan Colombia: The View from the Presidential Palace
May 1, 2001 — Author: Mr Eduardo Pizano The author, a former member of the Colombian Senate and now the General Secretary to the President of Colombia, discusses various misconceptions stemming from the uncertainty and confusion that permeated conference discussions involving U.S. policy in Colombia and the implementation of Plan Colombia. He makes several... MORE

U.S. Army and the Asia-Pacific
April 1, 2001 — Author: Dr Andrew Scobell The United States has key economic and security interests in the Asia-Pacific region. In recent decades, the Asia-Pacific has experienced rapid economic growth, a wave of democratization, and the emergence of a web of regional and sub regional multilateral institutions. All these developments have contributed to enhancing... MORE

Plan Colombia: The Strategic and Operational Imperatives
April 1, 2001 — Author: Dr Gabriel Marcella The United States is committed to helping Colombia fight its struggle against the violence and corruption engendered by the traffic in narcotics. This report examines the strategic theory within Plan Colombia, the master plan which the government of Colombia developed to strengthen democracy through peace, security, and... MORE

Political Control over the Use of Force: A Clausewitzian Perspective
April 1, 2001 — Author: LTC Suzanne C Nielsen The author addresses the issues regarding the ideal relationship between the commander and the statesman in time of war and the balance between political control and military operational expertise by examining what Carl von Clausewitz has to say about civil- military relations and the use of force. She looks in depth... MORE

Revising the Two MTW Force Shaping Paradigm
April 1, 2001 — Author: Dr Steven Metz One of the most important elements of U.S. military strategy for the past 10 years has been the belief that a force able to fight two nearly simultaneous major theater wars of the DESERT STORM type would be capable of dealing with the full gamut of security challenges that the United States is likely to face. These essays... MORE

Fighting the Hobbesian Trinity in Colombia: A New Strategy for Peace
April 1, 2001 — Author: COL Joseph R Nunez The author analyzes the drug intervention conundrum of Colombia. He then summarizes the reasons for the violent and anarchic situation that frustrates those wishing to make peace and expand democracy. After introducing what he calls the Hobbesian trinity, the author discusses alternatives to intervention and notes the... MORE

The Army and Homeland Security: A Strategic Perspective
March 1, 2001 — Author: Dr Antulio J Echevarria II The topic of homeland security includes a broad array of missions and mission areas ranging from national missile defense to military assistance to civil authorities. The topic has recently attracted a great deal of attention due to the public's heightened awareness of the variety and nature of emerging threats... MORE

Planning for a Peaceful Korea
February 1, 2001 — Author: Mr Henry D Sokolski With the change of administrations in Washington, current U.S. policy toward North Korea will naturally undergo review and scrutiny. The essays in this volume offer an option to the current engagement approach. The authors suggest an alternative strategy for promoting peace and security in the Korean peninsula different... MORE

U.S. Army War College Guide to Strategy
February 1, 2001 — Editors: Dr Joseph R Cerami, COL James F Holcomb Jr For more than 3 decades, the U.S. Army War College (USAWC) Department of National Security and Strategy has faced the challenge of educating future strategic leaders on the subject of national security, or grand strategy. Fitting at the top of an officer's or government official's career-long... MORE

Landpower and Crises: Army Roles and Missions in Smaller-Scale Contingencies During the 1990s
January 1, 2001 — Author: Dr Conrad C Crane The author analyzes the role of landpower in the 170 smaller-scale contingencies conducted by the United States during the last decade. He divides such contingencies into engagement, enhanced deterrence, hostility, and stabilization phases, and discusses the military's role in each one. The author especially emphasizes the... MORE

The American Army in the Balkans: Strategic Alternatives and Implications
January 1, 2001 — Author: Dr Steven Metz U.S. strategy in the Balkans and the Army's role there is examined. The author recommends continued U.S. involvement, consideration of a long-term American military presence in the region, and some significant changes in role of the U.S. Army. The goals that led the United States into the Balkans have not yet been fully met... MORE

Asymmetry and U.S. Military Strategy: Definition, Background, and Strategic Concepts
January 1, 2001 — Authors: Dr Douglas V Johnson II, Dr Steven Metz This report gives a simple and comprehensive definition of strategic asymmetry reflecting the need for military doctrine which transcends today's specific issues. The authors assess the strategic situation of the United States in terms of positive and negative asymmetry and offer five strategic... MORE