SSI Two-Fer
Two good reads at the US Army War College's
Organizing To Compete in Political Terrain by Dr. Nadia Schadlow.
In this analysis, the author identifies some of the continuing obstacles to
achieving civil-military integration in war. She argues that there are continuing
disagreements about who should lead the shaping of the political landscape in
war and that while doctrine has advanced in this area, good doctrine does not
guarantee the effective execution of governance-related tasks. Sound operational
approaches are required as well.
Got Vision? Unity of Vision in Policy and Strategy: What It Is and Why We Need It
by Dr. Anna Simons
Moving beyond “unity of effort” and “unity of command,” this monograph identifies
an overarching need for “unity of vision.” Without someone at the helm who has a certain kind–not turn, not frame, but kind–of mind, asymmetric
confrontations will be hard (if not impossible) to win. If visionary generals
can be said to possess “coup d’oeil,” then unity of vision is cross-cultural
coup d’oeil. As with strategic insight, either individuals have the ability
to take what they know of another society and turn this to strategic–and war-winning–effect,
or they do not. While having prior knowledge of the enemy is essential, strategy
will also only succeed if it fits “them” and fits “us.” This means that to convey
unity of vision a leader must also have an intuitive feel for “us.”
Both works are well worth a look. They're eminently relevant to current
issues and the broader practice of small wars, and are written by authors we respect a
great deal.
