Small War

The US Marine Corps Small Wars Doctrine:

In its most elemental form, Clausewitz defined war as "an act of force to compel our enemy to do our will." Clausewitz further explains that compelling an adversary to do one’s will is thus the object of war, while the means used to accomplish this object is physical force. In today’s world of instant information and worldwide media coverage, his words: "the political object is the goal, war is the means of reaching it, and means can never be considered in isolation from their purpose." have an even greater relevance to the "small war."

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In small wars, survival interests of the greater power are not immediately at stake. However, it is possible that an unsuccessfully prosecuted small war could lead to a more serious situation where survival interests do become involved.

I wonder how our small war is going in Fallujah...

ntodd