Letters

摘要

IMarinus' latest article on defeat mechanisms offers great theoretical and historical insight (MCG, Jul21). Follow through on the suggestion of addressing the concept of defeat mechanism directly in Warfighting would fill an important doctrinal shortfall. We cannot afford to imply defeat of the enemy is the goal of our warfighting philosophy; it must be specifically addressed. Thinking about defeat mechanisms in planning places the focus where it should be-directly on the enemy. Too often the bulk of planning effort is invested in thinking about what we are going to do to the enemy. The impact of our actions on the enemy receives less consideration. The opaque nature of the cognitive effort, so much of what we think about the enemy rest on assumptions, leads us to a default focus on the more tangible and concrete friendly courses of action.