Instead, the american way of war was driven more by political considerations than military ones, and the amount of. Both strategy and policy derive from a variety of factors, including national political culture, geog. Jan 12, 2016 the only constant in the american way of war echevarria identifies is the belief that tactical success will create strategic success, which, as he notes, makes it indistinguishable from the european way of war. Defense secretary rumsfeld has driven the department of defense dod headlong into his vision of a military transformation.
I could not have accomplished it without your help. The american way of war is a popular topic of debate among military thinkers. Weigley in the american way of war, the pioneering work published in 1973. A history of united states military strategy and policy, by russell f.
He wrote that the american way of war seeks on the pursuit. A better american way of war the national interest. After a long while of meaning to, ive finished russell weigley s magisterial book the american way of war. Weigley s analyses and interpretations are searching, competent, and useful. The american way of war refers to the grinding strategy of attrition that u. You have always been there for me even when my assignment was last minute. There is a new generation of complaint about the way we fight. In russell weigleys book, the american way of war he states that the united states military uses annihilation as their strategy in the way of war. Weigley s thesis was that technological and social developments have robbed war of its power of decision, resulting in wars in which the.
Many argue for a singular strategy or way of war for the u. One of weigleys major contributions to research is his hypothesis of a specifically american way of war, i. The term american way of war was mentioned for a first time in early 1970s with the publication of the american way of war written by russel weigley who examined the key political and military figures from george washington to robert mcnamara and their approaches to the war. A history of united states military strategy and policy made a more successful challenge to uptons interpretation. The american way of warfare a monograph by major chad m. A history of united states military strategy and policy weigley, russell f the wars of the united states series. Contrary to many popular sentiments, echevarria finds that the american way of war is not astrategic, apolitical, or defined by the use of overwhelming force. A history of united states military strategy and policy. Focusing almost entirely on the conduct of the nations major warswith little commentary on military affairs during peacetime interludes or.
It is tempting to think of this conflict largely as a land war. Visit our website for other free publication downloads. A history of united states military strategy and policy in 1979, by russell f. The full text of this article hosted at is unavailable due to technical difficulties. Weigleys thesis was that technological and social developments have robbed war of its power of decision, resulting in wars in which the. Format book edition indiana university press paperback ed. The apparent differences between these works have stimulated debate among military scholars. Weigleys analyses and interpretations are searching, competent. After a long while of meaning to, ive finished russell weigleys magisterial book the american way of war. Weigley traces the emergence of a characteristic american way of warin which the object of military strategy has come to mean total destruction of the enemy, first of his armed forces, often of the whole fabric of his society. The american way of war a companion to american military. Weigley s seminal 1973 book, the american way of war. Spurred by dramatic advances in information technology, the new american way of war relies on speed, maneuver, flexibility, and surprise. Another approach, very popular with the armed forces, is to define the american way of war as a redemption narrative.
During the past several decades, numer ous authors have written on the subject of an american way of war. A history of united states military strategy and policy 9780253280299 by weigley, russell f. The principal public hero of the war was a land man, u. These include works by russell weigley, max boot, and brian linn. Russell frank weigley wyglee july 2, 1930 march 3, 2004 was the distinguished university professor of history at temple university in philadelphia, pennsylvania and a noted military historian. American way of war oah magazine of history oxford academic. A history of united states military strategy and policy 9780253280299. Weigley in the american way of war, the pioneering work published in 1973, first described an american way of war, arguing it consisted of a unique american methodology. Weigley, russell f the wars of the united states series. Jan 01, 1973 weigley covers american military history from the revolutionary war to the vietnam war, showing that since the civil war the us has preferred the strategy of annihilation over both the napoleonic strategy of the decisive battle followed by lee in the civil war and the strategy of attrition, pursued by washington in the revolutionary war. Presents a critical analysis of the book the american way of war. A history of united states military strategy and policy by russell f. The american way of war weigley washington essay with me.
In russell weigleys book the american way of war he states. This book covers the american way of war through the second half of this century, and illustrates how u. This war was the last nail in the coffin of the vietnam syndrome. The field manual has moved beyond simple army doctrine for countering insurgencies to become the defining characteristic of the armys new way of war. That phrasepopularized by the military historian russell weigley in his 1973 bookhas come to refer to a grinding strategy of. Weigley covers american military history from the revolutionary war to the vietnam war, showing that since the civil war the us has preferred the strategy of annihilation over both the napoleonic strategy of the decisive battle followed by lee in the civil war and the strategy of attrition, pursued by washington in the revolutionary war.
The only constant in the american way of war echevarria identifies is the belief that tactical success will create strategic success, which, as he notes, makes it indistinguishable from the european way of war. A history of united states military strategy and policy edition 1. This book is essentially an exploration of the way america has conducted war, from the revolutionary war to vietnam. Weigley attempts to show the development of american military thought, from hitandrun tactics of the revolution to global policing and the containment of.
A history of united states military strategy and policy wars of the united states series by russell f. Strategies change depending on what the united states militarys goal in. Brian linn disagrees with weigley in his article, the american way of war revisited. Weigley has 18 books on goodreads with 3503 ratings. The argument for a focus on maritime dominance and the destruction of japans battle fleet the ukus debate in the european war over an enveloping strategy versus a concentration and mass strategy. One of weigleys most widely received contributions to research is. During the civil war, weigley claimed, a strategy of annihilation designed to overthrow the enemy by destroying its armed force became the characteristic american way of war. Much of what weigley said about the american way of war would apply to the german, french, or british methods of warfare as well. The american way of war fulszoveg in this authoritative and controversial study, russell f. He contends that from the colonial era to the civil war, while america developed as a new country, its military forces were relatively weak.
This approach was put on display in the invasion of iraq and should reshape what the military looks like. Instead, the american way of war was driven more by political considerations than military ones, and the amount of force employed was rarely overwhelming or decisive. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Perspectives on the american way of war will be of great interest to scholars of war and conflict studies, strategic and military studies, insurgency and counterinsurgency, and terrorism and counterterrorism. American strategy in perplexity, 194515 the atomic revolution. The american way of war is a powerful analysis of the historical foundation of the american militarys quest for total victory, which was laid during the civil war and reigned supreme during world war ii. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, emma seifrit weigley, his.
Professor weigley s current volume, a great civil war. A history of united states military strategy and policy new york. Although weigleys interpretation has stood the test of timewith most of the criticism only highlighting the. Linn explains the united states military uses many different ways of war. American way of war oah magazine of history oxford. Weigleys seminal 1973 book, the american way of war. A military and political history, is a solid survey of its topic but i believe that it adds relatively little to our understanding of the fouryear conflict which is the great turning point in american history. His research and teaching interests centered on american and world military history, world war ii, and the american civil war. Although weigleys interpretation has stood the test of timewith most of the criticism only highlighting the exceptions that prove the ruleone recent counter. A military and political history, 18611865, by russell f.
With this renewed confidence in what military historian russell weigley called the american way of war massive firepower, high technology, total victory washington is now seriously. Weigley, professor emeritus of american history at temple university, died at the age of 73 on march 3, 2004. Army division in the twentieth century ing among the armys bolder leaders of its organization for fighting. Consequently, the american way of war wasto rephrase weigleys argumentmore a way of battle than a way of war. Took longer than it should have, but as a foundational text for understanding not only american strategy, but basic concepts of national strategy itself, this book is unsurpassed. One of weigley s most widely received contributions to research is his hypothesis of a specifically american way of war, i. Neither party expected for the war, the magnitude, or the duration, which it has already attained, said president abraham lincoln in his second inaugural address. Weigleys analyses and interpretations are searching, competent, and useful. The gulf war was americas first serious war after vietnam. Weigley explores the ever evolving role of the military in an ever changing world, using history as the guideline to establish his facts. Search for library items search for lists search for contacts search for a library.
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