Wresting the Initiative

<p>This monograph examines the conduct of operations of the United States'; Eighth Army under the command of General Matthew B. Ridgway in the Korean War. During the period of Ridgway's command from late December of 1950 through April of 1951 the Eighth Army stopped an offensive campaign being conducted by Chinese Communist Forces. After completing a successful withdrawal and defense Ridgway's Army mounted a series of offensive operations to regain lost territory and reestablish a defensive line along the 38th Parallel. Thus this case study examines the campaign of an operational commander who successfully wrested the initiative back from the enemy and illustrates the significance of the AirLand Battle tenet of initiative at the operational level of war. The monograph is divided into four major sections. After an introduction in Section I Section II discusses the current doctrine concerning the tenet of initiative as described in Field Manual 100-5 Operations. Section III examines the theoretical foundations of the concept of initiative as expressed in the writings of Clausewitz. Section IV describes Ridgway's conduct of withdrawal defensive and offensive operations in early 1951. The concluding section evaluates Ridgway's operational design using the key concepts found in FM 100-5 -- centers of gravity lines of operation and culminating points. In sum this monograph uses classical theory current doctrine and history in evaluating Ridgway's operational design planning and execution during the Eighth Army's withdrawal defensive and offensive operations. This case study examines the linkages between the tactical operational and strategic levels of war. The physical cybernetic and moral domains of war are employed as a framework for analysis. Several insights emerge from this case study including the significance of: gaining and retaining the initiative in the conduct of both defensive and offensive operations; seeking tactical and operational success</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>