Echevarria describes the use and misuse of the concept of strategic culture and suggests a more practical method of. Consequently, the american way of war wasto rephrase weigleys argumentmore a way of battle than a way of war. Challenging several longstanding notions about the american way of war, this book examines us strategic and. He notes that many beliefs concerning the american way of war such as its.
Army war college best book award imaging future war. The argument for a focus on maritime dominance and the destruction of japans battle fleet the ukus debate in the european war over an enveloping strategy versus a concentration and mass strategy. This important new book exposes the influence of economics and finance on the questions of whether the nation should go to war, how wars would be fought, how resources would be mobilized, and the longterm consequences for the american economy. Us military practice from the revolution to afghanistan 2014.
The american style of waging war has clearly been the continuation of us policy by other means, where policy is not actually the collective interests of a community, as clausewitz so referred to it, but rather a set of prioritized interests. Reconsidering the american way of war contains seven chapters. At the forefront of military strategic studies in the united states army, dr. Us military practice from the revolution to afghanistan. Us military practice from the revolution to afghanistan challenging several longstanding notions about the american way of war, this book. It surveys all major us wars from the war of independence to.
The american way of war is a popular topic of debate among military thinkers. In reconsidering it, echevarria employs a broad but not deep historical sweep to compellingly demonstrate that weigleys conclusions do not hold up to close scrutiny. The american way of war has two sides to it the part where it is trying to help those nations that have internal conflict. I argue with the premise that there is an assumption that we have these decisions and tactics are apolitical. Published by georgetown university press echevarria ii, antulio j. In his newly published analysis of how the united states has, throughout its history, waged war reconsidering the american way of war georgetown university press, 2014retired u. Reconsidering the american way of war audiobook by. Reconsidering the american way of war consists of three parts. He has also published extensively in scholarly and pro.
It surveys all major us wars from the war of independence to the. Command of the commons very much relies on the global network of bases the us possesses. Us military practice from the revolution to afghanistan by antulio echevarria ii doc. Reconsidering the american way of war 9781626160675. Reconsidering the american way of waris a thoughtful, rich, and convincing examination of how and why the united states has used military force to accomplish national objectives throughout its history. Echevarria dismantles the various proponents of a unique american way of war by proving that us military practice has always been shaped by the politics of the moment. The only constant in the american way of war echevarria identifies is the belief that tactical success will create strategic success, which, as he notes, makes it indistinguishable from the european way of war. Information on the twentyfirst century battlefield. Echevarria discovers that most conceptions of american strategic culture fail to hold up to scrutiny, and that us operational practice has been closer to military science than to military art. Defense secretary rumsfeld has driven the department of defense dod headlong into his vision of a military transformation. This slender work is a masterful deconstruction of weigleys iconic the american way of war 1973. The american way of war is a deeply thoughtprovoking study of how america reached a historic crossroads and of how recent excesses of militarism and executive power may provide an opening for the redirection of national priorities. Echevarria ii confronts a significant disconnect between popular myths and actual practice.
In operation just cause, american planners failed to appreciate the political conditions for establishing a legitimate government once noreiga was taken down. Echevarria ii is a retired us army lieutenant colonel and is currently the editor of the us army war college quarterly, parameters. Native american ways pdf epub download cause of you. A better american way of war when we repeat the mistakes of the past, it is not because we are forced to because of bad habits. He is the author of several books, including clausewitz and contemporary war. Twenty faculty members received honor and applause for a range of published scholarship representative of the range of topics in the curriculum. Echevarria dismantles the various proponents of a unique american way of war by proving that us military practice has always been shaped by. Export a ris file for endnote, procite, reference manager, zotero, mendeley export a text file for bibtex note.
They have updated the work with new material covering nearly twenty years of scholarship, including the history of the american military experience in the balkans and somalia, analyzing the wars in iraq and afghanistan from 2001 to 2012, and providing two new chapters on the vietnam war. Echevarria ii, reconsidering the american way of war. Instead, the american way of war was driven more by political considerations than military ones, and the amount of force employed was rarely overwhelming or decisive. Cultural barriers to successful counterinsurgency by jeffrey record jeffrey record teaches strategy at the air war college in montgomery, alabama, and is the author of eight books. Contemporary strategy in historical perspective by hew strachan p. Reconsidering the american way of war echevarria ii, antulio j. It is not concerned with contingency plans or abstract scenarios. Many argue for a singular strategy or way of war for the u. The american way of war as it emerged had the following main characteristics. Reconsidering the american way of war georgetown university.
In recognizing these dynamics, the book provides a fresh perspective on the us war in iraq 2003 and the israeli war in lebanon 2006, both of which can be seen. Reconsidering the american way of war the book is wellthought out and research. Review essay strategic culture and ways of war, elusive fiction. He holds a doctorate in history from princeton university, and is the author of. During world war ii, general marshall chaffed at presidential guidance that shaped operations in north africa that he felt were framed by u. Us military practice from the revolution to afghanistan kindle edition by echevarria, antulio j. Military practice from the revolution to afghanistan by antulio j. Reconsidering the american way of war georgetown 2014. Ernest mays world war and american isolation 1958 and the three volumes about.
The first three delineate the debate about american war making and survey the extensive relevant literature. If the authors suggested policy mimicking fdrs armed neutrality how well did that work at preventing global war by the way all it did was allow dictators to run rampant until global war occurred were enacted what do you think our alliance portfolio would look like. Winning a war is the priority for the americans after the defeat in vietnam. Us military practice from the revolution to afghanistan antulio j. Save up to 80% by choosing the etextbook option for isbn. The first examines the current body of knowledge regarding an american way of war and various scholarly ideas, including the myth of strategic culture.
Operational concepts and military strength the heritage. A better american way of war the national interest. Rather, it concentrates on actual combat experience in the postcold war period. Imagining future war praeger securities international, 2007.
Echevarria ii and publisher georgetown university press. Contrary to many popular sentiments, echevarria finds that the american way of war is not astrategic, apolitical, or defined by the use of overwhelming force. Clausewitz and contemporary war oxford university press, 2007. Reconsidering the american way of war and over 2 million other books are. The second part, which makes up the bulk of the work, is a brief synopsis of every conflict in which. Information on the twentyfirst century battlefield, proposing the armys seventh warfighting function, the author proposes that the army should adopt information as the seventh warfighting function to enable the adequate integration of information in operational planning and execution and provide an improved ability to apply force below the threshold of lethal effects. Weigley covers american military history from the revolutionary war to the vietnam war, showing that since the civil war the us has preferred the strategy of annihilation over both the napoleonic strategy of the decisive battle followed by lee in the civil war and the strategy of attrition, pursued by washington in the revolutionary war. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading reconsidering the american way of war. As a result, being unable to deter becomes a threat to their identity, evoking strong emotional responses. They see that winning a war is the same as achieving the set goals. Another approach, very popular with the armed forces, is to define the american way of war as a redemption narrative. I do not argue with the premise that politics shape the decision to go to war and war waging. Us military practice from the revolution to afghanistan washington.
Us military practice from the revolution to afghanistan washington, dc. Us military practice from the revolution to afghanistan by antulio echevarria ii ebook pdf download. It surveys all major us wars from the war of independence to the campaigns in iraq and afghanistan, as well as most smaller us conflicts to determine what. The wests technological revolution and visions of wars to come 18801914. Categories displays a list of categories from this blog. Us military practice from the revolution to afghanistan users without a subscription are not able to see the full content. Home this is where you can find all the blog posts throughout the site.
Revolution and visions of wars to come, 18801914 westport, ct. Reconsidering the american way of war deserves a valued place on the reading lists of all those who are not only interested in military history, but are concerned with america s success in the wars it is fighting today and its ability to help keep the world secure in the future. Reconsidering the american way of war is a thoughtful, rich, and convincing examination of how and why the united states has used military force to accomplish national objectives throughout its history. Wilson himself, as is well known, tried to have things both ways, and as a. How did economic and financial factors determine how america waged war in the twentieth century. Reconsidering the lessons of appeasing hitler and beating goliath.
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