Problem
Military action loses value when it serves no clear political goal.
Action
Define the political result before choosing how to use force.
Outcome
Military effort supports a result that leaders can recognize and secure.
Chapter: Interstate Industrial War - Foundation: From Napoleon to Clausewitz
Problem
Industrial strength does not guarantee success when forces are built for the wrong task.
Action
Organize people, equipment, transport, and supply around the expected form of war.
Outcome
Military power becomes usable at the required scale and speed.
Chapter: Interstate Industrial War - Development: Iron, Steam and Mass
Problem
A search for total victory can produce costs greater than the political gain.
Action
Set limits on military aims before mass force turns the conflict into unlimited destruction.
Outcome
Force remains proportionate to the result being sought.
Chapter: Interstate Industrial War - Culmination: The World Wars
Problem
Guerrilla forces gain strength when the population accepts their cause or fears opposing it.
Action
Protect the population while reducing the armed movement's political appeal.
Outcome
The opponent loses the support needed to continue the conflict.
Chapter: The Cold War Confrontation - Antithesis: From Guerrillas to Anarchists to Mao
Problem
Nuclear danger makes direct pursuit of complete military victory too risky.
Action
Apply controlled force to influence behavior without expanding the conflict beyond its purpose.
Outcome
Leaders gain political leverage while reducing the risk of escalation.
Chapter: The Cold War Confrontation - Confrontation and Conflict: A New Purpose for the Use of Force
Problem
Forces designed for a major conventional battle often perform poorly in limited conflicts.
Action
Develop flexible units that can gather information and apply precise force in changing conditions.
Outcome
Commanders can respond effectively without using more force than the situation requires.
Chapter: The Cold War Confrontation - Capabilities: The Search for a New Way
Problem
Modern conflicts take place among civilians rather than on a separate battlefield.
Action
Plan every operation around its effects on civilian safety and public behavior.
Outcome
Military activity supports lasting political progress instead of creating new resistance.
Chapter: War Amongst the People - Trends: Our Modern Operations
Problem
Vague goals prevent commanders from judging which military actions are useful.
Action
State the desired political condition in terms that can guide each use of force.
Outcome
Military actions remain connected to a realistic strategic purpose.
Chapter: War Amongst the People - Direction: Setting the Purpose for the Use of Force
Problem
Force can worsen a civil conflict when commanders do not understand local threats and interests.
Action
Build local knowledge before applying enough force to enforce a clear mandate.
Outcome
Military intervention protects people while creating space for a political settlement.
Chapter: War Amongst the People - Bosnia: Using Force Amongst the People
Problem
Institutions built for industrial war cannot reliably meet the demands of conflict among civilians.
Action
Align doctrine, training, command, and equipment with the political outcomes required in modern operations.
Outcome
Armed forces become more useful in the conflicts they are most likely to face.
Chapter: Conclusion: What Is to Be Done?