Grinder
5 December 2003, 18:01
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2, 2003 - During the Cold War, deterrence was at the heart of
American strategy. The nuclear weapon triad of land-based missiles, bombers and
submarine-launched missiles deterred the Soviet Union from attacking the United
States and its allies.
In 2003, the Soviet Union is gone, Warsaw Pact nations are joining NATO, and
the greatest threats facing the United States and its allies come from
asymmetric sources.
The strategic environment of the 21st century is more complicated than it was
during the superpower confrontation. Weapons of mass destruction and the means
to deliver them are proliferating. Terrorist groups are cozying up with rogue
nations.
Is there a place for the policy of deterrence in the 21st century?
Yes, said Adm. James O. Ellis Jr., commander of U.S. Strategic Command [http://www.stratcom.af.mil/]. Ellis spoke at
the Institute for Foreign Policy Analysis and U.S. Navy-sponsored Fletcher
Conference here today.
Ellis said that all legs of the traditional nuclear triad remain relevant
today, but the missions, duties and tools have expanded. The definition of
deterrence is still the prevention of aggression threatening the United States,
its allies and friends and vital interests. "Strategic deterrence causes
adversaries not to take radical courses of action by maintaining a decisive
influence over their decision-making," he said.
A new, broader range of capabilities is needed if the military is to provide
leaders with basic deterrence, Ellis said. These include worldwide situational
awareness and the ability to quickly strike any adversary anywhere on the
planet.
Ellis said the words of Abraham Lincoln in his 1862 State of the Union address
are particularly apt today. "The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the
stormy present. As our case is new, so must we think anew and act anew," he
quoted from Lincoln's address.
The STRATCOM commander does not subscribe to the idea that the new threats of
terrorists and rogue states cannot be deterred. "They can be, and general
concepts of deterrence still apply," he said. "It is our ability to define what
new adversaries value, or more importantly, what outcome they wish to avoid at
all costs that needs attention."
He said the United States must arm itself with a new set of tools more suited
to deterrence in the 21st century security environment. In January, President
Bush assigned four new missions to Strategic Command, headquartered at Offutt
Air Force Base, Neb.: They are global strike; integrating DoD information
operations; global missile defense; and global command, control,
communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.
"Each of our missions have deterrent dimensions and place the U.S. Strategic
Command side by side supporting our regional combatant commanders," Ellis said.
"We are beginning to reshape the heart of our nation's deterrence paradigm. We
are studying ways to deny terrorists and rogue states the benefits they seek --
to see the issues in their terms - be they societal, religious, cultural or
personal. If they are convinced we can deny those benefits to them, we may be
effective in deterring future threatening acts."
He said traditional deterrence and these new missions may work on rogue states
- "especially those who retain some rational beliefs."
Ellis sees great promise in information operations. He said the concept
includes everything from electronic warfare and military deception to
psychological operations and operation security. It is not just computer
network attack and computer network defense.
The global missile defense system is designed to convince an adversary it is
futile to launch a limited missile attack on the United States, its allies or
its forces stationed around the world. The first operational system will be on
line in 2004, Ellis said. The command will continue to make improvements on the
concept in the years ahead.
"Deterrence only has credibility to the extent that we back it up with
capability and determination," Ellis said. "Today, the United States Strategic
Command continues to be uniquely positioned to support deterrence through its
cohesive package of both new and legacy missions."
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2, 2003 - During the Cold War, deterrence was at the heart of
American strategy. The nuclear weapon triad of land-based missiles, bombers and
submarine-launched missiles deterred the Soviet Union from attacking the United
States and its allies.
In 2003, the Soviet Union is gone, Warsaw Pact nations are joining NATO, and
the greatest threats facing the United States and its allies come from
asymmetric sources.
The strategic environment of the 21st century is more complicated than it was
during the superpower confrontation. Weapons of mass destruction and the means
to deliver them are proliferating. Terrorist groups are cozying up with rogue
nations.
Is there a place for the policy of deterrence in the 21st century?
Yes, said Adm. James O. Ellis Jr., commander of U.S. Strategic Command [http://www.stratcom.af.mil/]. Ellis spoke at
the Institute for Foreign Policy Analysis and U.S. Navy-sponsored Fletcher
Conference here today.
Ellis said that all legs of the traditional nuclear triad remain relevant
today, but the missions, duties and tools have expanded. The definition of
deterrence is still the prevention of aggression threatening the United States,
its allies and friends and vital interests. "Strategic deterrence causes
adversaries not to take radical courses of action by maintaining a decisive
influence over their decision-making," he said.
A new, broader range of capabilities is needed if the military is to provide
leaders with basic deterrence, Ellis said. These include worldwide situational
awareness and the ability to quickly strike any adversary anywhere on the
planet.
Ellis said the words of Abraham Lincoln in his 1862 State of the Union address
are particularly apt today. "The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the
stormy present. As our case is new, so must we think anew and act anew," he
quoted from Lincoln's address.
The STRATCOM commander does not subscribe to the idea that the new threats of
terrorists and rogue states cannot be deterred. "They can be, and general
concepts of deterrence still apply," he said. "It is our ability to define what
new adversaries value, or more importantly, what outcome they wish to avoid at
all costs that needs attention."
He said the United States must arm itself with a new set of tools more suited
to deterrence in the 21st century security environment. In January, President
Bush assigned four new missions to Strategic Command, headquartered at Offutt
Air Force Base, Neb.: They are global strike; integrating DoD information
operations; global missile defense; and global command, control,
communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.
"Each of our missions have deterrent dimensions and place the U.S. Strategic
Command side by side supporting our regional combatant commanders," Ellis said.
"We are beginning to reshape the heart of our nation's deterrence paradigm. We
are studying ways to deny terrorists and rogue states the benefits they seek --
to see the issues in their terms - be they societal, religious, cultural or
personal. If they are convinced we can deny those benefits to them, we may be
effective in deterring future threatening acts."
He said traditional deterrence and these new missions may work on rogue states
- "especially those who retain some rational beliefs."
Ellis sees great promise in information operations. He said the concept
includes everything from electronic warfare and military deception to
psychological operations and operation security. It is not just computer
network attack and computer network defense.
The global missile defense system is designed to convince an adversary it is
futile to launch a limited missile attack on the United States, its allies or
its forces stationed around the world. The first operational system will be on
line in 2004, Ellis said. The command will continue to make improvements on the
concept in the years ahead.
"Deterrence only has credibility to the extent that we back it up with
capability and determination," Ellis said. "Today, the United States Strategic
Command continues to be uniquely positioned to support deterrence through its
cohesive package of both new and legacy missions."