I have also omitted the footnotes although I have left in the footnote references within the text.
Please refer to the original text for these items.
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Meanwhile, here is the hyperlink to the source article:
My idea of war is that one force is there to protect the citizens of it’s country and the other force is there to protect it’s citzens. If one of these forces chooses to abandon it’s duty and use the people it is supposed to protect as shields and the people do not revolt and attack these forces then all have rendered themselves combatants and therefore legitmate targets. I realize that some of the shields are forced under threat of death by their countrymen, but if they are doomed either way, better they should perish than our forces. I feel any other system needlessly exposes our troops to danger. “World” sentiment be damned.
Save for reading later..
I don’t think they used fancy ideas like “Three Block War” during WW-II. I wonder if there was a reason for that...
I actually think that the concept of the three block war is useful to a point. I agree with the authors’ premise, though, that one force can’t perform all three functions. I’ve often thought that expansion of the military police branch towards autonomous units would go a long way towards accomplishing block 2, COIN or peacekeeping operations. In addition, more direct involvement of other agencies, especially AID, CIA and private contractors would be invaluable in both blocks 2 and 3 and maybe even supersede any military role in block 3. Basically, use people who are suited to roles and damn the bureaucratic pigeonholes.
I am wary of their touting of the UN experience in these things. From my perspective, the UN role in peacekeeping has either been minimal (El Salvador), best credited to others (Australia in East Timor) or horrendous (Somalia and Rwanda).
BTTT. !
I don’t think the author understands what Krulac was saying about the “3 Block War”
something like 80% of the worlds population lives within 100 miles of the coast with most living in an urban environment.
His goal was to focus the Marine Corps training on the types of missions most likely to be recieved from the civilian leadership.
When a Marine Expeditionary Force marches up the gangway on the ships for a cruise, they don’t (didn’t.. pre WOT) know if, when they next left the ship, it would be for Liberty, disaster relief, peackeeping or amphibous assault.