Abstract:
By emphasizing the necessity of recognizing the inherent contradiction between the role of military doctrine and the nature of asymmetry, this article enumerates the characteristics of an effective doctrine and the nature of asymmetric combat. Ambiguity, unknown factors, and the unexpected nature of events are recognized features of asymmetry; in response to these features, a doctrine must be creative, proactive, and adaptable, avoiding the dictation of operational principles in order to confront asymmetric threats. Subsequently, the authors mention the characteristics of an effective doctrine in the era of asymmetry and explain how to disseminate the new doctrine from the highest to the lowest levels of command and training centers. Finally, it introduces two characteristics—creative thinking and organized initiative across all levels of command—and the combination of these two features in using technology as the foundation for designing successful military doctrine. While comparing past U.S. military doctrines—which were developed based on U.S. military superiority—with the military doctrine required to counter asymmetric warfare, it attributes the history of military doctrine design to valid classical theories and the utilization of experiences from major European wars. In the conclusion, it is stated that military doctrine must be flexible and capable of predicting ambiguity and the unknown to create conditions for creative thinking and initiative in force employment. Furthermore, it emphasizes the necessity of revising doctrine at all levels to maintain useful principles and eliminate useless ones when confronting the enemy and leveraging asymmetric advantages.
Machine summary:
Ambiguity, unknown factors, and the unexpected nature of events are recognized features of asymmetry; in response to these features, doctrine must avoid dictating operational principles and instead possess creativity, initiative, and adaptability to be able to confront asymmetric threats.
In the conclusion, it is stated that military doctrine must be flexible and capable of predicting ambiguity and the unknown to create conditions for creative thinking and initiative in force employment.
Fuller"* a military historian wrote: "The general plan of any army is known as its doctrine, which must, to be reasonable and logical, be based on the principles of war, and to be effective and efficient, have sufficient flexibility to be receptive to transformation and adaptation to the situation based on changing conditions.
For example, if the enemy potentially possesses microbial weapons and the United States lacks them, our preparedness in terms of technology, doctrine and operational, depending on protecting our forces, producing antidotes for microbial weapons and gaining the ability to attack or destroy the delivery mechanisms of such weapons, protecting civilians, etc.
" The art of tactics includes three interrelated aspects: namely, the set of initiative, innovation, and flexibility of tools to carry out assigned missions; decision-making under conditions of ambiguity when facing an intelligent enemy; and understanding the human dimension, meaning the effects of combat on soldiers.
Doctrine must provide the principles of training and the necessary set of tools to understand the concept and determine the method for conducting successful operations due to the increasing asymmetric nature of operations.
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