Rumsfeld Doctrine

Rumsfeld Doctrine

The "Rumsfeld Doctrine", named after former United States Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, is a neologism created by journalistsFact|date=September 2008 concerned with the perceived transformation of the military of the United States. It would be considered Rumsfeld's own take on RMA (Revolution in Military Affairs). It seeks to increase force readiness and decrease the amount of supply required to maintain forces, by reducing the number in a theater. This is done mainly by using LAVs (Light Armoured Vehicles) to scout for enemies who are then destroyed via airstrikes. The basic tenets of this military strategy are:

*High-technology combat systems;
*Reliance on air forces;
*Small, nimble ground forces.

Afghanistan and the Iraq wars are considered the two closest implementations of this doctrine.

Opposition

Opponents argue that the doctrine entails a heavy reliance on airstrikes to replace a lack of ground forces. Beginning with Saddam Hussein, there were at least 50 airstrikes aimed at decapitating the Iraqi leadership. Not a single one was successful. However, there was extensive collateral damage to civilians. [http://www.hrw.org/reports/2003/usa1203/]

Opponents also claim that without ground troops to secure the border, top Ba'athist regime members fled the country with vast Iraqi funds and foreign insurgents moved into the country. There were not enough troops to defend the Iraqi border from foreign-backed insurgents. This was not as much of a problem in Afghanistan because Soviet hostilities had long ended any Afghanistan benefits from geological border protections.Fact|date=July 2007

They also claim that without sufficient troops the country could not be pacified. Without sufficient troops to guard the Iraqi military infrastructure large amounts of munitions were looted. This has led to the current problem of insurgents and their improvised explosive devices (IED)s. Notably, Thomas L. Friedman of the "New York Times" has referred to the Rumsfeld Doctrine as one of "just enough troops to lose".Fact|date=July 2007

See also

*Powell Doctrine
*Revolution in Military Affairs
*Network-centric warfare

External links

* [http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/04_17/b3880048.htm Bruce Nussbaum Criticism of Rumsfeld Doctrine]
* [http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:59qooCEzclYJ:www.oft.osd.mil/library/library_files/article_44_WSJ-on%2520Rumsfeld%2520Doctrine.doc+%22Rumsfeld+Doctrine%22&hl=en Greg Jaffe Take on the Rumsfeld Doctrine]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Rumsfeld — Donald Rumsfeld Donald Rumsfeld Portrait officiel de Donald H. Rumsfeld, 2002 13e et 21e Secrétaire à la Défense des États Unis 20 janvier 2001 …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Donald Rumsfeld — 13th and 21st United States Secretary of Defense In office January 20, 2001 – December 18, 2006 President George W. Bush Deputy …   Wikipedia

  • Foreign policy doctrine — A foreign policy doctrine is a general statement of foreign policy and belief system through a doctrine. In some cases, the statement is made by a political leader, typically a nation’s chief executive or chief diplomat, and comes to be named… …   Wikipedia

  • Bush Doctrine — The Bush Doctrine is a phrase used to describe various related foreign policy principles of United States president George W. Bush, created in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks. The phrase initially described the policy that the United… …   Wikipedia

  • Donald H. Rumsfeld — Donald Rumsfeld Donald Rumsfeld Portrait officiel de Donald H. Rumsfeld, 2002 13e et 21e Secrétaire à la Défense des États Unis 20 janvier 2001 …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Donald Henry Rumsfeld — Donald Rumsfeld Donald Rumsfeld Portrait officiel de Donald H. Rumsfeld, 2002 13e et 21e Secrétaire à la Défense des États Unis 20 janvier 2001 …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Donald Rumsfeld — Portrait officiel de Donald H. Rumsfeld, 2002 Mandats 13e et 21e Secrétaire à la Défense des États Unis …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Military doctrine — is the concise expression of how military forces contribute to campaigns, major operations, battles, and engagements. It is a guide to action, not hard and fast rules. Doctrine provides a common frame of reference across the military. It helps… …   Wikipedia

  • Monroe Doctrine — U.S. President James Monroe. Secretary of State John Quincy Adams, author of the Monroe Doctrine …   Wikipedia

  • Obama Doctrine — The Obama Doctrine is a term frequently used to describe one or several unifying principles of the foreign policy of Barack Obama. Unlike the Monroe Doctrine, the Obama Doctrine is not a specific foreign policy introduced by the executive, but… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”