“War is thus an act of force to compel our enemy to do our will.”
First it must be clarified, what military strategy means. Weighley presents the following definition which is also officially recognized in the US military: Military strategy … is the art and science of employing the armed forces of a nation to secure the objectives of national policy by the application of force, or the threat of force.”
At the highest level, the National Security Strategy (NSS) outlines enduring US national interests and general security goals and describes how to integrate all elements of national power in pursuit of those goals. From the NSS derives the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR), which directly shapes budgeting and force-structure decisions. …show more content…
In the just war tradition, just cause is one of the requirements of jus ad bellum—that is, one of the conditions of justification to wage war. International law recognizes only one just cause for war: self- or collective defense against an aggressor. Contemporary legal notions also recognize a prevention of large-scale violations of human rights by their own government just cause for war. These are the most elemental just causes for war in the realm of international law and just war theory. However, the United Nations´ Security Council may also authorize the use of military force against states. One of the main argument for going to war against Sadam Hussein was the inacceptable risk of weapons of mass destruction. In addition, an UN security council authorization for the use of force against the Iraqi regime had not been issued. As a conclusion, because no WMD were found, the just cause was no longer given and the United States lost credibility in the eyes of strategic audiences. The lesson learned in this case is, that the United States should not wage war against an enemy unless a UN Security Council resolution is available, or a broad consensus among its international allies and partners for a coalition of the willing is
First it must be clarified, what military strategy means. Weighley presents the following definition which is also officially recognized in the US military: Military strategy … is the art and science of employing the armed forces of a nation to secure the objectives of national policy by the application of force, or the threat of force.”
At the highest level, the National Security Strategy (NSS) outlines enduring US national interests and general security goals and describes how to integrate all elements of national power in pursuit of those goals. From the NSS derives the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR), which directly shapes budgeting and force-structure decisions. …show more content…
In the just war tradition, just cause is one of the requirements of jus ad bellum—that is, one of the conditions of justification to wage war. International law recognizes only one just cause for war: self- or collective defense against an aggressor. Contemporary legal notions also recognize a prevention of large-scale violations of human rights by their own government just cause for war. These are the most elemental just causes for war in the realm of international law and just war theory. However, the United Nations´ Security Council may also authorize the use of military force against states. One of the main argument for going to war against Sadam Hussein was the inacceptable risk of weapons of mass destruction. In addition, an UN security council authorization for the use of force against the Iraqi regime had not been issued. As a conclusion, because no WMD were found, the just cause was no longer given and the United States lost credibility in the eyes of strategic audiences. The lesson learned in this case is, that the United States should not wage war against an enemy unless a UN Security Council resolution is available, or a broad consensus among its international allies and partners for a coalition of the willing is