Character warfare: argumentative analysis and perspectives

¶ … Changing Character of War

The way that warfare has transformed since founding of America has been dramatic. In the past, warfare existed exclusively the work and burden of men; nowadays women have a strong strategic and participatory involvement. War used to revolve around brute force and the fight against nature and topography: in recent times, technology has evolved so rapidly that things like excessive force and ideal climate or weather aren't as crucial. In the next twenty years however, the character of warfare will continue to experience a metamorphosis and tactics of war will consist of a hybrid of techniques: covert, aggressive, technological and humanitarian.

In twenty years, war will have to take on such a hybrid, multi-modal approach because terrorism will also be taking that approach. "Many defense analysts suggest that future conflict will be multimodal…This threat is frequently described as hybrid warfare where adversaries can employ unique combinations of all forms of warfare specifically targeted to U.S. vulnerabilities… [tactics which] destabilize government authority and abet insurgents by providing resources.

" Thus, the new climate of war will require that the new tactics of warfare develop more responsively. Because terrorism and crime will be working new angles to dismantle stability in the U.S., so the United

States will also have to work a multi-faceted approach of warfare. The military will have to expand covert and aggressive techniques.

Technology will continue to drive war, as it has always driven and shaped war to some extent, but military leaders will need to pair technology with intensive strategy and other angles for victory. "While the quest for technological superiority, the silver bullet as it is sometimes known, is as old as war itself, technology is but one of the factors that shape war and determines its outcome. As a result, victories due solely to technological superiority have been rare; and such superiority, even if it was achieved, usually did not last for very long.

" This will continue to subsist as the trend for the next twenty years without a doubt. Technology -- tracking and surveillance equipment, photography equipment, guns/rifles, bombs and others -- will continue to evolve but none will offer enough power to ever win a war or to be so dependent that they're necessary for war. Technology will remain worthless unless it's paired up with advanced statistical strategy.