New Wars Demand New Systems

Twice in the past 64 years, Americans have woken to the startling realization that no ocean is wide enough to shield this continental nation from the turbulence of history. Pearl Harbor and 9/11 not only drew America into global wars, but also revolutionized the tools and conduct of such warfare. In the 1940s, planes with propellers were quickly replaced by high-speed jets, and nuclear weapons raised the stakes of war by an order of magnitude previously incomprehensible. Warfare before World War II and warfare after were fundamentally different, yet in important respects it much remained the same. Young Americans would continue to be brought to far-away places to win conflicts with their “boots on the ground.” So it is now. Big things are happening at the Pentagon, and while buzzwords like “transformation” and “modularity” generate lots of excitement, and even upheaval, the need for well-trained, and well-led, troops remains constant.