article index  1 2 3 4 5
 

Colonel Boyd on Limited War and Iraq Victory
By Lance Winslow

In discussing the OODA Loop theory on Limited War by Colonel Boyd with in the context and patterns of conflict, it appears that we as a nation have forgotten the other options dictated by previous conflicts in the works of von Clauswitz “On War” in that we are disregarding such options and scenarios entirely. In our attempt to move the human race into a different space we are also changing the theory of war in order to do so. Yet at the same time not admitting that we are not so good at it, as we are led to believe by the academics.

In fact as we see Pentagon employees in the DC Suburbs reading the Koran, Middle Eastern Culture and history books to understand the culture, that culture is becoming more adept at using our wonderful new attitude to take advantage of such efforts and new concepts of conflict. We are seeing the NATO employees in Tucson doing the same thing. We are listening to the powers that be to keep the conflict scaled down, but just enough to operate the war machine.

Hmmm?

By using this OODA Loop theory in it’s entirety, we are being manipulated into only choosing certain chess board moves by the enemy (the face-less cowards of international terrorism) and we are not using the whole track, which I might add is the first thing they teach you in motorcycle street racing class. It is as if limited war and diplomacy is being used against this strategy. Yet, at the same time we appear to be allowing these methodologies to the utmost and are failing to act decisively in many instances.

Without such threats of all out war where you annihilate your enemy into oblivion, it is becoming harder and harder to negotiate to fulfill our political will, since the enemy real or perceived does not believe that we will ever use such options. Yet we have an arsenal more than capable of doing so and a quick intense history-making event of the ultimate in destructive power to show strength has yet been seen in the last 5 decades. We are seeing un-negotiable thoughts of our foes, middle fingers high in the air and treaties that these folks have no intention on fulfilling as a matter of fact they are laughing at us and some of the larger more potentially deadly foes in our future are being trained by us and are already finding ways to counter our Future War Strategies of net-centric, blue force tracking and combat scenarios.

Why, because we are teaching them, they are helping us design ours and we are allowing loose lips to sink future ships. When we allow students to come learn nuclear physics, IT, modern materials, fluid dynamics, frequency energies and modern business tactics, they are not going back to their countries to make paper dolls and we both know it.

Thus with this said, the power struggles are lasting decades instead of swift changes to set mankind back on course, including the god forsaken horrible attributes and consequences of nuclear weapons. Surely it is not pretty or even something you want to think about. In Colonel Boyd’s model which has since been adopted by our war time leadership observe, secure options and eventually act, we have in fact failed to act and failed to achieve the goals set forth to stabilize regions. Fear Factor is being replaced. We are choosing targets via military lawyers and allowing the same non-reality based thinking which has stagnated American Industry with over regulation and incessant litigation to enter the realm of wartime.

Previously and I can remember my dad an accomplished RAG Wing Fighter pilot serving in 250 combat missions in a jet over Vietnam and also eventually running his own squadron saying the fighter pilot Naval mantra; “Never give a sucker and even break, take the advantage and cheat” reason being; there are no points for second place and in case you don’t get it, you are dead if you are not number one.  for part 2 click here

back to answering service - or to Article Index 1 2 3

click for top