In Search of an Enduring Military Theory

<p>This study examines the US principles of war to see if they are potential candidates as the foundation for a timeless and universal military theory. Each is compared to similar fundamental statements made by past military theorists to ensure it is not tied to the twentieth century specifically. Then each is compared to the military fundamentals of representative cultures from around the world to see if it is unique to American experience. Those principles that survive this process are recommended for consideration as the foundation of a permanent enduring military theory that can be used as a basis for doctrinal changes as threats and capabilities change in the future. If the US Army had such a theory doctrinal changes could be made with it as a baseline without having to reinvent the wheel with each technological change or threat reorientation. This study recommends the use of six of the eleven principles of war from the 1997 draft of FM100-5 as the potential basis for an enduring military theory incorporates two of the existing principles into one of the survivors and recommends three be dropped from the list of theoretical fundamentals.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p><br>